Name
James Doughton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/06/1915
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
17995
Bedfordshire Regiment
“B” Company. 2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10/11
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Ardeley Village Memorial, St Lawrence Church Memorial, Ardeley
Pre War
James was the son of William and Elizabeth Doughton, of The Ram and Hurdle, Luffenhall, Hertfordshire.
Wartime Service
He arrived in France on the 8th June 1915 a stifling hot day, which was followed by a severe thunderstorm, with hail, which flooded the billeting area. James was to survive for just eight days on the Western Front. On the 14th June the Battalion left its billets at Windy Corner, near Givenchy-les-la-Bassee and headed for the assembly dug outs. Over the following two days the Battalion worked and fought ceaselessly in what was known as the Second Action at Givenchy. On the 16th June they were located in New Cut and Scottish Trench when all the platoons entered the crater at the junction of Sunken Road Trench and The Trench, once a German trench but, at this time, unoccupied and in a bad state of repair. They came under a considerable volume of rifle and Machine Gun fire as it topped the lip of the crater. A spirited fight at close range took place and troops were not able to push forward on account of the hostile bombs. At this point German reinforcements arrived and, on account of there being no sign of Regiment which was attacking on the right, orders were given to withdraw to their former trenches. James was killed during this action and has no known grave. His name is recorded on the Le Touret Memorial.
Additional Information
www.stevenageatwar.com
Acknowledgments
Paul Johnson
