South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project |
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1s |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | 1914 Star & Clasp, British War & Victory Medals | Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 11 Nov 1914 in France | ~ | Brinklow |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Trench Warfare at Ypres | August 1914 at Coventry | |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| Canal Bank Trenches at Ypres | ~ | |
Circumstances of Death
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James is listed as being killed in action on 8 Jul 1915. The battalion war diary for that day is transcribed below:- 8th July 1915. Trenches - Canal Bank: D Coy heavily shelled in morning. 11th Bde heavily engaged all day fighting mostly with hand grenades. 1 Platoon B Coy sent up to reinforce D Coy whose bombers were sent up to front line trenches. 9.30pm: B Coy relieved D Coy in support, A Coy were put in reserve at Hulls Farm to 11th Bde. C & D Coys were relieved by 147th Brigade & went into bivouac at Elverdinghe Chateau. Major Forster and Major Bannerman rejoined at 2am being relieved by Colonel Palk, Hampshire Regt. Casualties: 2 Lieut Lewis (4th S. Staffs) & 2nd Lieut Johnson killed. Other ranks 8 killed, 54 wounded. 2nd Lieut J.H. Bennett wounded (shell shock). END |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| c1892 at Brinklow | |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Charles and Ann Alice Watkins | Brinklow |
| Wife and Marriage Details | Children |
| Prudence Watkins nee Powell | Edith Nellie born 14 Jan 1914 |
| Oct Qtr 1913 at Coventry | James Robert born 14 Feb 1915 |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1892 - Brinklow | 1911 - Bricklayers Labourer |
| 1901 - 3 Church Street, Coventry (St. Marks) | |
| 1911 - 5 Church Street, Coventry | |
| 1915 - Brinklow | |
- We have not yet been able to find James's birth record. The 1901 & 1911 census returns show it as 1892 at Brinklow and his Soldiers
Who Died in the Great War record states he was born in Brinklow. - The 1891 census shows that his parents were living in Brinklow and that his father Charles was born there. By 1901 they were all
living in Coventry. - James is not to be confused with Private 1367 James Ernest Watkins who was born in Brinklow in 1890