NASH James

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral.

Martley Parish Register:
Baptism 8/8/1893 James son of Richard and Edith Nash

1911 Census
The Noak
Richard S. Nash, Gent, age 53, Solicitor and Farmer
Edith Nash, age 46
George Nash, age 20, undergraduate Magdalen College, Cambridge
Dorothy Alice Nash, age 18
James Nash, age 17 Boarding at Kings School
Edith Margaret Nash, age 12
Francis Barbara Nash, age 10
Slade Nash, age 9

Born June 26th, 1893. Died April 2nd, 1915
James Nash entered the School House in the First Form at the age of 10, and left after 9 years as Head of the School, with the Meeke Scholarship at Hertford College, Oxford, and a School Leaving Exhibition.  This position he won by steady, persevering industry, and probably none of his contemporise was better liked or more respected.  He did his best both at work and play, representing the School both at Cricket and Football, and acting as School Librarian, Secretary of the Field Club, and Corporal in the O.T.C.  But he will be best remembered for his sterling character, his genial smile, and kindly disposition, which won him many friends both at School and College.  At Oxford he took Honours in Classical Moderations and was reading for History Honours when the war broke out.  He at once volunteered for service and was gazetted as Second-Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion of the East Surry Regiment.  He went to the front in the spring and was killed in action on Good Friday night, while securing the safety of his men during a night attack.  As grandson of a former Headmaster he had special ties with the School and was one of the keenest and best of O.V.’s.  His untimely but glorious death is a matter of deep regret but also of heartfelt pride to all who knew him, whether as masters or schoolfellows.
We thought that radiant soul was meant
For greater things, we should be sure,
No life is short that’s nobly spent,
No hero’s death is premature.
W. H. C.

The following extracts from letters from his fellow officers bear eloquent testimony to the position which he had won on his Regiment:-

From the General Commanding the 14th Infantry Brigade:-
“We can ill afford to lose such capable officers as he has proved himself to be.  He fell like a gallant English gentleman, bravely leading his men for King and country.”

From the Officer commanding the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment:-
“He was a most promising young officer, and a great loss to the service and this battalion. During the short time he was with us he has endeared himself to both officers and men, and we all share in grief at his glorious but untimely end.”

From a brother officer:-
“I hope this will give you some idea of how brave your son was.  I sincerely wish he could have been spared; but he died a soldier’s death, in the execution of his duty and for his country.  I went over to the trenches to take command, and the sergeant, and then one by one the man, of his platoon came up, and in their own way they said how sorry they were, and wished to convey their deepest sympathy to you.”

From another officer:-
“I am writing to on behalf of the officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the company to offer you our very sincere sympathy in your great loss.  Your son was in the company since the time he joined the 1st Battalion, and was conspicuous for his keenness and bravery.”

J. N.
In love of freedom, not in lust of War,
England has call’d ‘Go, break the power of
Pride.’
For Freedom and for England he has died,
Snatch’d out of Life, when Life lay all before:
As one, who glides down Severn to explore
Mightier waters, and has scarce espied
Afar the first bright waves that fleck the tied,
Is crash’d and whelm’d beneath the sudden
bore.
Yet linger not in grief. Ours is the loss:
And shall we brood, self-pitying, on the price
His glorious gift to England bids us pay?
No! Crown his grave with the triumphant
Cross.
Till sons of England shrink from sacrifice,
Far off from England is Dishonour’s day.
O. V.

Source for additional information: The Vigornian, June 1915, No.83, Vol.VIII

Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 10th April 1915:
Information has been received that Second-Lieut. James Nash, second son of Mr and Mrs R.S. Nash, The Noak, Martley was killed at the front on Saturday April 3rd.  On the outbreak of the war he was at Oxford University, and was a member of the university O.T.C.  He was one of the first to volunteer for service, and was appointed as Second-Lieut. in the 4th East Surrey Regt.  He was of a very bright and cheerful disposition, and his frank and amiable manner won for him many friends, and made him very popular.  Sincere sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Nash in their great sorrow.

United Parish Magazine, St Peter’s Church, Martley, May 1915:
DEATH OF LIEUTENANT JAMES NASH
The war has taken toll of us in Martley in two cases now.  James Hill (Grenadiers) was killed at Ypres; and on Good Friday Lieutenant Nash met his death in the trenches near the same place, and the bad news came to Martley on Easter Tuesday.  The whole parish condoles with his bereaved parents and family and yet when time heals the worst of the loss we shall be proud of his self sacrifice.  He met his death by a bullet in the darkness, as he was looking after the safety of his men.  His thought for others was characteristic of him, as many of us know.  His Brigadier Colonel, and other officers, have written in high praise of him and deeply lamenting his death, and the sincerest sorrow is felt by all the neighbourhood for the sad blow to Mr & Mrs Nash and the family.  This was shown in a striking manner by the large gathering in Church on April 16th at the memorial service besides his relatives, his old master Canon Chappel, several of his schoolfellows and many of his neighbours came the memory of the brave young officer and to testify to their sympathy with the family at the Noak.  James Nash was not only a favourite with all who knew him, but had done himself the greatest credit in his career.  He won the Mark Scholarship from Worcester Cathedral School, and was also an Exhibitioner of Hertford College, Oxford where he was finishing his education when war broke out, and he felt it was his duty to offer himself for a commission.  He was one who lived in faith and duty, and his death will not be in vain; for it was met in the cause of righteousness, which no one can doubt God Almighty will uphold in this sad war.  May he rest in peace.

Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 1916
NASH MEMORIAL – Dedication at Martley Church
On Thursday evening the Rev, H Maynard Smith dedicated in Martley Church a window erected to the memory of Lieuts. George and James Nash, the gallant sons of Mr and Mrs Slade Nash, who fell last year while on active service.  There were a large number of relatives and friends of the family present at the service, as well as representatives of the Cathedral King’s School (Lieut. J Nash was an O.V.) and a number of parishioners, who gathered to express their sympathy and sense of the exceptional loss suffered by a family which has many honourable associations with the district. . . . .

A photograph of Lieutenant James Nash can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 17th April 1915, available at Worcestershire Archives.