205004 Pte. James Edward Booth British Army 11th Btn. C Coy. Lancashire Fusiliers from:2 Clarence Street, Miles Platting, Manchester (d.27th Apr 1918) James Edward Booth, my grandfather, died when my mother was five weeks old. All I have ever known about him is his name and that he got killed in the war in France. However, I recently managed to obtain a commemorative certificate by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which has a picture of Esquelbecq cemetery, where he is buried. From that I found he was Private 3866, C Coy, 11th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers, he died aged 30 on 27 April 1918, and his mum and dad were Eliza and Edward Booth.
The cemetery was opened in April 1918 during the early stages of the German offensive in Flanders, when the 2nd Canadian and 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Esquelbecq. It was closed in September 1918. It obviously was soon filled.
My mother is now 91 and has dementia but when I gave her a copy of the certificate I read it to her and showed her the picture of the cemetery where her Dad is buried. She was overcome with emotion, it was so moving. I am desperately trying to find out more about her dad so I can tell her.
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