Name
James Thomas Hale Lehrle
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/03/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
44655
Royal Irish Rifles
No. 3 Coy., 15th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOUCHOIR NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot V, Row A, Grave 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Not on the St Albans memorials(*1)
Pre War
Son of Thomas and Sarah Ann (nee HALE) LEHRLE of Watford; husband of Louisa Mary (nee REEVE(S)) LEHRLE of Watford.
His parents married 13 September 1886 at St Peter’s, St Alban’s, Herts. Sarah died 1928 in Watford aged 68, and was buried 26 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Thomas died 8 March 1948 in Watford aged 85, and was buried 11 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
James was born 16 September 1887 in St Alban’s, and attended St Andrew’s Boys’ School, Watford, from 5 February 1894. He married 5 July 1911 at St Mary’s, Watford. Louisa never remarried, and died 1973 in the Hemel Hempstead, Herts, district aged 85.
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 he lived in Watford, with his parents and no siblings. On the 1911 Census, aged 13 he still lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a picture framer and gilder aged 23, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford, and was formerly Private 3528 19th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras Rifles).
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was presumed killed in action.
Additional Information
There are Death announcements for James in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 19 April 1919 and 26 April 1919. Unfortunately, James’ Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. Recorded as LEHRLE T H in the Borough Roll of Honour. *1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as St Albans. This may be the case, however St Albans was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
