| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Jim Backhouse was born in Beverley the 4 Feb 1891 and baptised at St Mary’s Church the 18 Mar 1891, the son of John William Backhouse and Selena (nee Richardson) who married in 1889 at St Mary’s Church, Beverley. John was a florist and a market gardener employing members of his family. The family lived at 38 North Bar Within. Jim was educated privately and later became an assistant in his father’s business. He was unmarried. The family business passed to Jim’s older brother, John William Backhouse, born 1890.
Jim served in the Northumberland Fusiliers, he joined the 1st/4th but was transferred to the 1st/7th where he served as a Private in 13 Platoon, “D” Company. He joined them on 4 Mar 1916 and went to the front on the Somme on 4 Jul 1916. On 15 Sep 1916 he was involved in the attack on Flers-Courcelette. His regiment attacked at 06.20 hours and took Hook Trench, Jim was killed in the fighting. News of his death reached his parents on 4 Oct 1916, his body was not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, on the Somme. He was awarded the War and Victory Medals.
Jim is commemorated on the Hengate War Memorial, Beverley and in Beverley Minster on The East Riding Memorial. His name is also on the St Mary’s Roll of Honour. Jim is also commemorated, along with eleven other men, on a memorial window in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Toll Gavel where Jim was a member.
Includes information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |