HUXLEY James

James Huxley enlisted as a Private in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 27th May 1915 at the Military Camp, Niagara, Ontario, Canada. On his attestation paper he gave his date of birth as 11th January 1891 in Evesham, England, his next of kin as his mother, Mrs Elizabeth Huxley, 6 Greenhill, Evesham, England and his occupation as a fruit farmer. He was 5 feet 9 inches tall with blue eyes, reddish hair and a fresh complexion.

On 10th June 1915 James sailed from Montreal, Canada on the S.S. Hesperian bound for England. After a brief spell there he embarked for France on 17th July 1915 where he joined the 15th Battalion.

James was admitted to No 2 Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport, France on 1st August 1915 with a gunshot wound to his left shoulder which he had received at Ploegsteert on 30th July. After an operation to remove shrapnel from his shoulder he was transferred to England where he was admitted to Reading War Hospital on 11th August 1915. When sufficiently recovered he was transferred on 8th September 1915 to the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Taplow, Buckinghamshire for 2 weeks and then to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Bromley, Kent on 23rd September 1915 for light duty. He rejoined his unit on 26th December 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 24th July 1916 and then to Corporal on 7th September 1916.

James spent a further month in hospital from 8th April 1917 to 9th May 1917 undergoing treatment for impetigo. He rejoined his unit on 17th May 1917 and was promoted to Sergeant on 16th May 1917. He was granted 14 days leave to the UK from 9th January 1918 and after returning to France he spent 20 days at the 1st Army Musketry School, rejoining his unit on 23rd February 1918. James was killed in action on 1st September 1918.