Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Grave: | Liverpool (Anfield) Cemetery | ||
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.120 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 13A GQS | |
| 4. Memorial: | Liverpool Masonic Hall War Memorial | Col.1. Hope St. | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
The majority of this legend is courtesy of Geoff Cuthill of the Province of West Lancashire, to whom the project is grateful.James was born at Timperley, Cheshire in 1868 to Alfred and Mereli (nee Atkins) who had married two years previous at Altrincham, and in the 1871 census the family lived at Peel Street, Hale. In the 1881 census the family reside at 1 Warrington Road, Bollington, with James as a young Corn Millers Apprentice, his father Alfred is a 39 year old ‘joiner’ born at Knutsford while mother Merili is 35, and had been born at Bilston, Staffordshire. James, the eldest shown is 14, Alice 10, Alfred 9, William 7, Roylance 5, Ellen (Helen) 4, George 2 and Ben 8 month.
In 1889 James’s brother Alfred joined the army age 17 years and 5 month under the alias of Alfred Davies,as Private 9422 King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, then left the following to join the 3 Bn The King’s Liverpool Regiment as 3320. While serving with the 1st Battalion in Barbados he signed a declaration on 21 August 1897 revealing his true identity.
By the time of the next census in 1891 it shows James had left the Altrincham area and was boarding at 13 Florida Street in Bootle, employed as a Grain Clerk, aged 23 years. His parents and siblings are resident at Wesley Chapel, Booth Bank Cottage in Millington, Altrincham, and since the last census he has new siblings, Charles 8, Fred 6, Sydney 4 and Agnes 3 month.
The following year sees his marriage to 21 year old Mary Jane Haughton at Bootle St Mary on 16 July 1892, and he is a clerk residing at 49 Blackburn Grove, Bootle. Mary lives at 72 Regent Road, the daughter of James Ralph Haughton, a block maker. Their first child, James was born on 22 November 1894 and baptised at St Peter’s, Liverpool on 30 December that year. Daughter Ethel dies age 6 month on 22 July 1897. The family is next recorded as living at Fulton Street, and the next census in 1901 shows the family at 51 Fulton Street, North Scotland Road. Son Alfred dies age 3 month on 20 November 1901.
The census return of 1911 has the Davenport family resident at 72 Regent Road, Bootle with James age 42 head of household, a clerk at Grain Storage Company, born at Timperley Cheshire. Wife Mary Jane, is 40, an eating house keeper of her own account, born in Bootle. The couple have been married for 18 years, producing four children, two of which are still alive. The eldest James is 16 and an engineering apprentice, younger sibling John is age 5. Also present are brother-in-law Fred Houghton age 20, an apprentice joiner and Mary Ann Sallary a 24 year old waitress working in the eating house.
His brother Alfred, still a serving soldier, marries Sarah Millett in February 1912 at St Augustine’s Church, Everton, with James as one of the witnesses. Alfred leaves the Army in August 1914 having served a total 24 1/2 years. With the outbreak of war James’s eldest son, also named James, but nicknames as ‘Sonny” volunteers in September 1914 and joins the 5th Battalion of The King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. Alfred on 24 September re attests age 42 years 9 month, back into the 5th Battalion which he left a month previous, and it is possible that James senior was also a member of the same Battalion, although his papers, unlike his son’s and Alfred’s no longer survive to confirm.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: Royal Defence Corps |
| Action : Accident |
Accidents were a minor factor in the casualty list. Our definition is deaths resulting from activities that were not directly associated with 'active service'. We have excluded Naval Accidents which are seperately identified because of their numbers and impact. Many accidents involved the aviators, operating at the the limits of technology.
Detail :
10951 Co.Sgt Major, Royal Defence Corps (No. 316 Provost Company - Territorial Force), killed in accident at Gretna, 13 June 1917 age 49. Formerly 20002, The King's (Liverpool Regt.)
On 17 May 1915 James (Sonny) is killed in action in France, and on surviving paperwork it gives his father as James Davenport, Colour Sergeant, Acting Sergeant Major. Obviously the family was upset on the loss of their son, but more was to come just two years later with the death of James senior. At some stage James (senior) had been transferred from The King’s Liverpool Regiment, where he held the No 20002, to the Royal Defence Corps, Territorial Force. First formed on 17 March 1916 to provide troops for security and guard duties inside the United Kingdom the Corps was mainly composed of soldiers either becoming too old or medically unfit for active front-line service, and the experience of James meant that on his arrival he became the Company Sergeant Major No 10951 with No 316 Protection Company, under Western Command.
The first report on 14 June just says he has been killed in an accident but a fuller report appears on Saturday 16 June 1917. This has “Killed by accident at Gretna, Sergeant Major Jim Davenport, Royal Defence Corps, PM Alliance 667 (late Grain Storage, Strand Road) dearly beloved husband of P Davenport 72 Regent Road. Funeral at Anfield Cemetery on Monday next at 4 p.m. The death of James is also fully reported in the Dumfries and Galloway Standard of 16 June under the title ‘Railway Fatality at Gretna’ which has; “A distressing accident occurred at Gretna Green Station of the G & Sw Railway on Wednesday evening, by which Sergeant Major Davenport of the Royal Defence Corps, Gretna, lost his life. He was hurrying to catch the train for Carlisle, which arrives at Gretna at 5.46 pm. Coming to the platform on the south side of the station, he proceeded to cross the line, not observing that a passenger train from Carlisle was then coming into the station. He was knocked down by the engine of the latter train and died a few minutes afterwards from injuries, his skull having been fractured. The fatality, occurring as it did when the station was crowded with the staff from the munition works, caused a painful sensation. Deceased was an elderly man.
The burial was covered by the local newspaper under the banner of “Military Funeral” and said; The funeral of the late Sergeant Major Davenport who resided at 72 Regent-road, Bootle took place at Anfield Park Cemetery, the Rev E Lomax officiating. The deceased met his death at Gretna, as a result of being knocked down on the railway whilst on duty. He was attached to the Royal Defence Corps and prior to his joining H.M. Forces he was in the service of the Liverpool Grain Storage and Transport Company. Mr Davenport was also a prominent member of the Masonic Brotherhood of the Alliance Lodge No 667.
The coffin was covered with the Union Jack and was carried by a number of his fellow N.C.O’s, and the band and firing party of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers preceded the cortege to the cemetery. The mourners included Mr John Davenport (son), Co. Sergeant Major A. Davenport, Messrs W Davenport and B Davenport (brothers). R Haughton, W Haughton and F Haughton (R.F.C.). J Sprott, R Taylor, T Rodgers, F Johnson, H Williams and F Houston (brothers-in-law) Private D Jackson, Messrs R Watts (Maryport). T Broad, R W Cooper, R Johnson, A Johnson (nephew). A large number of his military colleagues and Masonic brethren attended the funeral. The funeral arrangements were in charge of Messrs John Waugh and Sons, Scotland-road.
James’s date of death was Wednesday, 13 June 1917, at Gretna Green, Dumfries-shire, Scotland, age 49, and he was laid to rest in Grave C2. 218 within Anfield Cemetery. Liverpool. The index for probate has Davenport, James of 72 Regent Road Bootle Lancashire. CSM R.D.C. died 13th June 1917 at Gretna Green, Dumfries-shire. Administration 14th July to Mary Jane Davenport widow. (1 Smyma Road, Bootle). Effects £272 8s 9d.
Footnote: Sadly the couple’s eldest son, also named James Davenport, lost his life serving as Rifleman 2853, 5th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) on 17 May 1915 age 20 years, and his photograph is taken from the Bootle Roll of Honour published in 1916. The battalion was a territorial unit and had its base in St. Anne Street, Everton, part of the West Lancashire Division, and young James attested on 29 September 1914, also volunteering for overseas service. After completing training he sailed from Southampton on 21 February 1915 for France, and was killed in action at Richebourg L’Avoue just eighty six days later, at the Battle of Festuburt. James Jnr has no known grave and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, which commemorates over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave. He is further commemorated at home on the Liverpool Collegiate School, and St. John’s Church of England School, Bootle.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Alliance No. 667 E.C. | West Lancashire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
19th September 1899 | 21st November 1899 | 19th December 1899 |
James Davenport was one of three initiates into Alliance Lodge 667 on 19 September 1899, being described as age 32 and a book keeper of 51 Fulton Street. He was one of six passed to the fellow-craft or second degree on 21 November, and one of five raised to the degree of master mason on 19 December 1899. His Grand Lodge certificate was issued on 10 January 1900. He was Treasurer in 1907 and in 1910 he became the Worshipful Master of the Lodge. The 1915 return for Alliance Lodge shows his younger brother Alfred Davenport, who was initiated when serving as an Instructor (army) in 1913, residing at 35 Faraday Street.
Listed on the Liverpool Masonic War Memorial.
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