JAMES Samuel Frederick

Samuel James enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 28th July 1917 in Toronto, Canada.  On his attestation form he gave his date of birth as 5th November 1878 in Worcester, England, his occupation as a Valet and his next of kin as his mother, Ellen James, 23 Chestnut Street, Worcester, England.  At the time of his enlistment he was resident at 662 Lexington Avenue, New York, U.S.A.  Samuel was 5ft 9ins tall with blue eyes, brown hair and a medium complexion.

Prior to leaving Canada, Samuel signed an Army Form of Will bequeathing everything to his mother Ellen James.  He sailed from Halifax, Canada on 3rd February 1918 on the S.S. Scandinavian, arriving in Liverpool, England on 16th February 1918.  On 1st June 1918 he proceeded overseas with the 116th Battalion, arriving in France on 2nd June.  On 13th August 1918 he was transferred to the 14th Battalion, joining them in the field on 15th August.  Just over 2 weeks later Samuel was killed in action.

National Archives of Canada Reference: RG150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 4778 – 3.

The Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty) records the following information on Private Samuel James, 2537468:
“Killed in Action”
Attack South East of Cagnicourt.

A photograph of Private S.F. James of Worcester can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 21st September 1918, available at Worcestershire Archives.