| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
James England was born in Molescroft the 2 May 1875 and baptised at Beverley Minster on 2 Jun 1875, the son of James England and Fanny (nee Bryan). James senior, a farm labourer and then a gardener, was born in Duggleby. They married in 1869. The family lived in Molescroft but after 1880, James junior, lived at various addresses in Driffield. In 1891 he was working as a farm servant at Pockthorpe, but was later a general labourer in Driffield. He was unmarried and still living with his parents at the outbreak of war.
James served with the Royal Garrison Artillery in the 61st Siege Battery. They arrived in France on 9 Mar 1916. The RGA batteries employed large guns behind the British frontline, often in fixed positions. James served as a gunner. According to the Beverley Guardian of 2 Nov 1918 he was still in France at the end of the war and apparently uninjured in his time there. He was awarded the War and Victory Medals.
James returned to labouring jobs in the Driffield area. In 1939 he was working as a labourer in a flour mill. He also worked for the LNER. On 16 Mar 1930 he married Lucy R Hodgson at St Mary's Church, Little Driffield, they had lived at 13 Adelphi Street, Driffield. James died in 1948 aged 73. Lucy died in 1972.
Includes photograph information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |