G/5332 Private
8th Battalion Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), attached to the 72nd Trench Mortar Battery, 72nd Infantry Brigade, 24th Division
Age: 22
Date of Death: 16.5.17
Buried: Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm) Special Memorial C.24
Family history: Son of Bridget Kelly, 6 Milton Row, Denny. He enlisted in Denny and went to France on 30 August 1915.
The action leading to his death
On the 14 May the battalion were in the Infantry Barracks in Ypres as Brigade Reserve. On the evening of the 14/15 May they relieved the 8th Yorks & Lancs with 13 officers and 230 other ranks left in the transport lines. On the 16 May work parties were attached to the 2nd Canadian Tunnelling Company and the 129th Field Company Royal Engineers.
The Engineers were 24th Divisional Troops and were repairing the reserve line at Maple Trench at Sanctuary Wood. On the night of the 15/16 May the Germans mounted a raid causing considerable damage at Fort Street Trench. Although there is no direct evidence of James being involved he did die of wounds and is buried in a cemetery that was next to a Field Ambulance.
(Linesman Map)
Medals Awarded:
1915 Star, The British War Medal, Victory Medal
