225176 Pte. John James British Army 15th Btn. Notts and Derby Regiment from:43 Hogarth Street, Nottingham (d.17th July 1916) John James was born in Nottingham on 22nd December 1895. He was the eldest and only son of Alfred and Annie James. John had two younger sisters - Ada and my grandmother Annie.
When war broke out John was working as a foreman at a box making factory keen to join up but at 5'2" he was too short and turned away. He was determined to join and tried again but once again was unsuccessful. Sadly, John was presented with white feathers by the girls at his box making factory. This deeply upset John and on his third attempt he pleaded with the recruiting sergeant who finally relented stating that 'the army will pull the last inch out of you'.
So in September 1915 John went into infantry training at Ripon training camp. He had joined the 15th (Service) Btn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbys).
The battalion arrived in France in February 1916. In July it saw action on the Somme. John's battalion was positioned on the night of 17/18th near to Trones wood opposite Guillemont village. During this night the trenches were shelled terribly and John disappeared into oblivion never to be recovered.
It was told by a survivor who had seen John that night, that as he left John in his part of the trench the German guns opened fire and there was a terrific bombardment after which the trenches where John was no longer existed.
John is now remembered along with over 300,000 other on the Thiepval Memorial.
As a child, my grandmother would often tell me the story of her brother and my great uncle and I will always remember him. My childhood hero. God bless you John.
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