| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
James William Bryon, known as Jim, was born 1 April 1879 at Driffield. He was the eldest of three children born to Hodgson Bryon, a shepherd, and his wife Selina Dale. His two younger siblings were Ralph Bryon and Selina (Lena) Bryon. The family lived at Leven, then Wawne before finally settling in Beverley. Jim worked as a tanner's labourer at Richard Hodgson and Sons Limited. He married Maggie Vincent on Christmas Day 1900 at St Mary's Church, Beverley and became the step-father to her three children, including George William Vincent, who later assumed the surname Bryon. They had six more children. By 1914 the family lived at 8 Grove Terrace, Norwood, Beverley.
After a year's service with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, James enlisted in the 5th Battalion, Alexander, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment in 1910. He attended summer camps in Richmond, Yorkshire and Haltwhistle, Northumberland with this Territorial Battalion. At the outbreak of the war he was embodied into the 5th Battalion at Scarborough and embarked for France on 17 Apr 1915. Army Service documents for 1059 Lance Corporal J Bryon record him being in hospital, sick, between 23 Jan and 15 Feb 1917. He was posted to the Base Depot on 19 Feb 1917 as being fit for Base duties only and was sent to England to work as a ploughman in essential farm work. In Jun 1917 he returned to Dunkirk with the 5th Labour Company, then back to England, ultimately being transferred to the Labour Corps in which he served until discharged on 20 Feb 1919. He joined the 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards), Territorial Army, on its reformation in 1921 and served with them until his death in 1933.
Jim's younger brother, Ralph Bryon of the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, was killed near Bapaume on 18 October 1916. His step-son, George William Bryon, who served as a Lewis Gunner with the 5th Yorkshires was gassed and wounded four times.
In addition to the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, Lance Corporal James William Bryon was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal.
Maggie Bryon died 24 Dec 1923, aged 51, James William Bryon died aged 53, on 19 Apr 1933.
Includes information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |