Name
James Younger
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial
Pre War
James Stedman Younger was born in Mildenhall, Suffolk the eldest son of Henry Younger, groom and Jane (nee Preedy), they were living at St Andrews Street, Mildenhall. On the 1871 Census the family had moved to Red Lion Yard, Newmarket. James had 3 brothers and a sister.
James enlisted at Woolwich on15 Oct 1880 for service in 1st Brigade Royal Artillery as Driver 19932. He was aged 23 years and 9 mths. James was reclassified as Gunner on 1 Apr 1882 following a 1 month course at the School of Artillery and completed his 7 years of service on 20 Mar 1887 and was transferred to the 2nd Brigade and Reserve finally being discharged on 14 Oct 1892. He stated he was moving to the Kennels, Kinsbourne Green, Luton.
James married Ellen Preedy in 1892 in St Albans. On the 1901 Census the family, including son William James and daughter Elizabeth E, were living at Breadcroft, Harpenden and James‘s occupation was a groom at livery stable. On the 1911 Census James occupation was a general labourer and the family, still at Breadcroft, included William J and a younger brother Henry. His Army recors state that he was divorced fromm Ellen Preedy, although no date is recorded. There is a record of a marriage between James Younger and Ellen Skeggs in Apr 1917.
Wartime Service
James was called for enlistment on 25 Jul 1915 as Gunner 765819 Royal Artillery and was posted to No 1 (TF) Artillery Training School, Ripon. His papers state that his apparent age was 42 years (actually he was 60 years old). He was re-assigned to Northumberland RFA on 29 Jan 1917. On 11 Jul 1917 he was placed on Army Reserve as Class T and on 19 Jul reclassified as Class W/T. Following Medical Examinations James was finally discharged on 1 Aug 1917. He was re-boarded at Luton (C battery No 6 Reserve Brigade). He was barely able to walk due to Chronic Rheumatism and myalgia in his left hip contracted due to exposure in service and was classified as C3 (Sedentary work only), being awarded a pension of 27s 6d per week. He also received his Silver War Badge number 250936. James died on 11 Dec 1918.
Biography
Additional Information
His son William James served as a Corporal in Royal Army Vetinary Corps and survived the War.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
