Military History

James is listed as being killed in action on 25th September 1915. The 2nd Battalion war diary for the day is transcribed below, it was difficult to read and at times does not make clear sense.

Loos - 25 Sep 1915 – 4am: Everything ready for the assault. The Gas expert reports wind favourable.

4.40am: Zero to be 5.50am received

5.50am: Gas turned on and hose firing smoke shell from Stokes Gun (these Guns got done in).  In one the copper burst and charge burst in the other he got off about 30 rounds between the 2).

6am: The wind changed, all the gas blew back especially onto B Coy. All ranks had smoke helmets on (old pattern ordered to be tossed). Consequently most of B Coy were gassed. Not all very bad but it put them out of action. Reported to Brigade, ordered to attack.

6.34am: Wind got better at 6.20am and gas turned on again. 6.34am Battalion got our and moved forward to the attack. Battn HQ with Battn could see nothing for smoke and gas between the lines. Very difficult to find direction, most people choking on reaching the wire it was discovered that it was not cut being low and wide.

On the left of the Battn troops started to go back. This left the Battn as there was a gap of 500x to our right unattacked. The Battalion had to fall back.

A rally was made on the left and we went forward again. Gas from the 15^th Division drifted up to us and it was necessary to go back to our 1^st line. On the right the 15^th Div got through and could be seen streaming through Loos to Hill 70.

On the left in the 7^th Div area the German line was taken, there was then only the unbroken gap to the front of 2^nd Bde.

7.56am: Received orders that the Northants and 2/Sussex would go through us, also L N Lancs. Nothing came of this attack.

12noon: The Gloucesters (3^rd Bde Reserve) ordered to advance by southern sap and bomb north up German trench in conjunction we opened frontal fire and the Germans surrendered.

3.30pm: Bde advance ordered & Gloucesters were advancing on Bois Hugo, “Queens Force” (9/Kings & London Scottish) in support and 2^nd Bde in reserve. Bois Hugo Chalk Pit and Puits ? the Bde objective reached by 4.30pm. Line taken up and dug as follows:

2/Lt Dowden and 2/Lt Syington? Taken from Bde to join Battn. All our casualties in Officers took place in the morning.

Rained all night. Men dug in awfully well

Casualties during the 25^th: Officers 4 killed, 8 wounded, 1 sick from  gas.
Other ranks approx numbers: Killed 100; Wounded 250; Missing 237 (suffering from Gas probably)