Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 53A GQS | |
| 2. Memorial: | Pink Farm Cemetery Helles | Sp. Mem 156. | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
Son of the Rev. C. H. and Mrs. James, of Epperstone Rectory, Notts. Born at Haigh, Lancs.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 5th Battalion Manchester Regiment |
1/5th Battalion August 1914 : in Bank Chambers, Wigan. Part of Manchester Brigade, East Lancashire Division. Moved to near Rochdale. 25 September 1914 : landed at Alexandria in Egypt. 6 May 1915 : landed on Gallipoli. 26 May 1915 : formation became 127th Brigade, 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. 28 December 1915 : evacuated from Gallipoli, landed on Mudros and proceeded to Egypt. 2March 1917 : landed Marseilles and proceeded to the Western Front. |
| Action : Gallipoli |
The Gallipoli Campaign was fought on the Gallipoli peninsula 25th April 1915 to 9th January 1916. in a failed attempt to defeat Turkey by seizing the Dardanelles and capturing Istanbul. Ill-conceived and planned, the initial effort by the Royal Navy failed to force passage through the Dardanelles by sea power alone. It was then realised that a land force was needed to support the project by suppressing the Turkish mobile artillery batteries. By the time all was ready the Turks were well aware and well prepared. Despite amazing heroics on the day of the landings only minor beachheads were achieved and over the succeeding 8 months little progress was made. Eventually the beachheads were evacuated in a series of successful ruses.
Despite Gallipoli rightly becoming a national source of pride to Australians and New Zealanders, far more British casualties were sustained, and these days the substantial French contribution is almost forgotten.
Detail :
Captain Francis Arthur James, 5th Bn. Age: 29 Date of Death: 18/09/1915.
De Ruvigny's "JAMES, FRANCIS ARTHUR, Capt., 5th Battn. The Manchester Regt. (T.F.) 2nd s. of the Rev. Charles Henry James, Vicar of Haigh and Aspull, Wigan, by his wife, Emily Maria, sister to Sir Edward Donner, of Scarborough, Solicitor; and brother to Corpl. C.E., Sergt. H., and Lieut. G.S. James (q.v.); b. at Haigh, 1886; educ. at Cranleigh School, and St. John's College, Cambridge (B.A. with Mathematical Honours 1908; M.A. 1914), and became Vice-Principal of the Colvin Talugdars' School, Lucknow, in 1909. He was in England on sick leave when war broke out, and, offering his services, was given a commission as Lieut. in the 5th Manchesters 31 Aug. 1914; went to Egypt with the Battn. Sept. 1914, and afterwards to the Dardenelles 4 May, 1915; was wounded in July, but rejoined his regiment after a short absence in hospital; was promoted Capt. 1 Aug. 1915, and died 18 Sept. following, of wounds received in action in Gallippli; unm."
Probate JAMES, Francis Arthur of Haigh Vicarage Haigh near Wigan died 18 September 1915 at Gallipoli Peninsula Administration (with Will) London 22 December to the reverend Charles Henry James cleark. Effects £1513 8s. 5d.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Chutter Munzil No. 3276 E.C. | Bengal |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
23rd February 1910 | 23rd April 1910 | 17th August 1910 |
He is recorded as a Principal of a school in Lucknow when he is initiated into Chutter Munzil Lodge, in 1910. His final annotation shows he was "Killed in action 1915."
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley