Name
James Denham
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/09/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
15677
Gloucestershire Regiment
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HEILLY STATION CEMETERY, MERICOURT-L'ABBE
IV. I. 15.
France
Headstone Inscription
GONE FROM US BUT NOT FORGOTTEN NEVER SHALL THY MEMORY FADE
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hammerfield memorials, Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials, Chesham War Memorial, Bucks, St Mary's Church, Chesham, Bucks.
Pre War
James Denham was born in 1893 in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of Henry Denham and Rose (nee Hayes).
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 376 Berkhamsted Road, Chesham, Bucks where his father was working as a Boot Rivetter. James was the fourth son of six brothers and one daughter. By 1911 they had moved to 45 Vale Road, Chesham and James was living with his mother and siblings (there was now an additional son and daughter) and working as a Boot Finisher. His father was not listed.as he was ill in Chesham Cottage Hospital.
Wartime Service
James enlisted in Chesham as Private 15677 and was posted to
10th (Service) Battalion. James landed
in France on 9 Aug 1915. His promotions to Lance Corporal and Serjeant are
noted on his Medal Card (no Service record could be found). The 10th
Battalion was part of 1st Division and took part in the Battle of
the Somme in 1916 particularly in September 1916, the battles of Flers-Courcelette
(15 –22 Sep) and Morval (25 – 28 Sep). He died of wounds on 26 September 1916,
probably at the 36th Casualty Clearing Station, which was stationed at Heilly
from April 1916.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs R Denham, 45 Vale Road, Chesham, Bucks., ordered his headstone inscription: "GONE FROM US BUT NOT FORGOTTEN NEVER SHALL THY MEMORY FADE". His parents received a war gratuity of £11 10s and pay owing of £13 8s 3d. His mother received a pension of 2s 6d a week, increased to 5 shillings from 6 November 1918. Brother William (born 1891) served with Army Service Corps MT as Private M2/023220 from 16 Dec 1914. He went to France assigned to 18 Div Signal Coy until 25 Aug 1918, being demobilized in Apr 1919 after spell in hospital following appendicitis. Brother Percival Lawrence (born 1898) served as Private and lance Corporal 266701 in Ox & Bucks Light Infantry from 25 Nov 1915. Landed in France 26 May 1916 to 28 Nov 1917 having suffered Gunshot Wound to Right Calf on 21 Nov 1917. He was discharged on 10 Mar 1919.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
