Pte 49081 James England Hazlewood

• Age: 34
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 1st August 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

James England Hazlewood was born in 1883 at Toxteth Park and was baptised on the 20th May 1883 at St.James C.of E. Church, Toxteth Park. He was the son of Alfred Hazlewood, a sailmaker, and Louisa (nee England) who were married in 1867 at Our Lady and St Nicholas' C.of E. Church, Liverpool. His parents were both born at Liverpool.  He married Mary Ellen McCarthy at St James R.C. Church, Bootle on the 4th February 1914, giving his home address as 126 Thornton Road, Bootle. He and his wife had no children.

On the 1891 Census the family are living at 6 Roseberry Street, Toxteth. His father Alfred is aged 48 and employed as a sailmaker, his mother Louisa is aged 42, children Alfred E. 16 cabinet maker, Elizabeth E. 14, Rebecca 12, William J. 10, James E. 8, Arthur S. 6, Emley R. 4, Albert S. 1mth (all born Liverpool).

The 1901 Census shows James aged 19 at Kingwood Road, Fulham with brother Alfred Hazlewood junior age 26 and brother in law Theophilus Honour age 19. (Alfred was a cabinet maker and James was a cabinet maker improver).

His father died in the March quarter of 1911 aged 67. 

In the 1911 Census the family are living at 255 Hawthorne Road, Bootle. His mother, Louisa Hazlewood is a widow with children Mary Jane, James England, Arthur Stanley, Emily Ruth and Albert Samuel. She had been married for 43 years and had 11 children born all fo whom have survived. At the time of the Census, James England was employed as a house joiner.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 49081 when he was killed in action on the 1^st August, 1917 aged 34 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

The 20th Battalion diary gives details of the circumstances that the Battalion found themselves in during the early phases of the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). Having taken part in the initial fighting of 31st July 1917 there is a general write up in relation to the period 01st -08th August and specifics solely from the 03rd August. 

20^th Battalion Diary 01^st August – 08^th August

The Battalion continued to hold the position taken up on the morning of 31^st July. After the first day the weather was very wet and the going very difficult, but the men’s spirits remained wonderfully good. From time to time there was very heavy enemy shelling and in addition to this machine guns and snipers were very active. The work of communication was extremely difficult and the wires to Companies and to Battalions on our flanks were repeatedly cut and were only kept going by most excellent work by our linesmen, who suffered very heavy casualties as also did the runners. 

A report on his death appeared in the Bootle Times on the 31st August 1917 and on the 07th September 1917:

A WIDOW'S GRIEF.

BOOTLE LADY LOSES HUSBAND AND BROTHER.

Pte. Jas. Hazelwood, K.L.R., who was instantly killed by a German shell on August 1st whilst trench digging, joining up in July, 1916. Prior to the war he had been employed as a joiner for a number of years by Messrs. J. Webster and Son, timber merchants, Brasenose-road, and resided with his wife at 132, Moore-street, Bootle. He was 34 years of age and had been married about four years. The deepest sympathy will be felt for his widow in the loss of a husband who was esteemed by all who knew him; Mrs. Hazelwood has also lost a brother at the front, and another has just returned to France after being twice wounded. Pte. James Hazelwood's parents reside in Thornton-road, Bootle.

In a letter to the widow, his officer says, "I have lost a real man from my company; his place will be hard to fill. My sympathy in your sorrow is heartfelt."

James has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Mary Ellen. She never remarried and died on 14th October 1961 at St Catherines Hospital, Birkenhead, aged 75.

His mother died in the September quarter of 1936, aged 86.

James is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Bootle Civic Memorial

St James R.C. Church, Bootle. 

His Brother-in-Laws Michael Joseph McCarthy and Peter McCarthy also fell.

Michael Joseph McCarthy was born at Bootle in 1895 and was baptised at St James R.C. Church, Bootle. He was the son of Walter McCarthy and Norah (nee Kearney) who were married on the 8th July 1883 at St.Alban’s R.C. Church, Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows the family at 40 Percy Street, Bootle. The parents Walter and Nora with children Mary, Alice, Nora, Peter, Michael, Geoffrey and Walter and Michael Carney, father in law. His parents had been married 28 years with 9 children born and one died.

A report on his death appeared in the Bootle Times on the 9th November 1917:

"A HERO'S DEATH."

BOOTLE SERGEANT FALLS TWICE WOUNDED.

Sergeant Michael Joseph McCarthy, of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. who died of wounds received in action on October 4th, was only 22 years of age, but had been on active service since the early days of the war. A young man of fine physique, he joined up in November, 1914, had earned rapid promotion, and had done some very hard fighting. He had been wounded in two engagements, and twice had been slightly gassed. The third son of Mrs. W. McCarthy, 40, Percy-street, Bootle, he was home on leave about six weeks ago.

Shortly after his return to France, his regiment went into action, Sergt. McCarthy was wounded in the left arm, but heroically carried on. Later he was wounded in the stomach, and tell unconscious. He was sent down to hospital, but died three days later. Captain Chandler, M.C., writing to the relatives, says:- "He died a hero's death, and was awarded he Military Medal. He was a splendid N.C.O. and a great example t the men under him; I wish we had many more trustworthy men liked him."

Michael, who was an "old boy" of St.James' School, is the second son given by Mrs. McCarthy to the country's cause, Private Peter McCarthy, of the Scots Guards, having fallen in April of last year. Before the war Sergt. McCarthy was employed by Messrs. Wilson, Son and Co., Chapel-street, and was highly popular by reason of his frank and manly character.

A report on his award of the Military Medal appeared in the Bootle Times on the 31st May 1918:

Military Medals were awarded to . . .

Late Sergt. H.J. McCarthy, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Mrs. M. McCarthy, 40 Percy-street; continued to fight heroically in spite of being severely wounded.

Peter McCarthy was born at Bootle in 1888 and was baptised at St James R.C. Church, Bootle. Peter married Margaret Campbell at St James R.C. Church, Bootle in 1912. He and his wife had two sons Peter (b 1913) and Andrew Frederick b 1915). His wife and sons lived at 15 Clifford Street, Bootle after the war. 

A report on his death appeared in the Bootle Times on the 21st April 1916:

DIED OF WOUNDS.

AN OLD BOY OF ST.JAMES' SCHOOL, BOOTLE

Official intimation has reached Mrs. M. McCarthy, of 1, Clifford-street, Bootle, that her husband, Pte. Peter McCarthy, of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, died in No. 14 General Hospital, France, on April 7th, from wounds received in action.

 In a letter to the widow, the Rev. Father Northcote (chaplain), writes: "I have the sad duty of announcing to you the death of your husband, who died of wounds in the hospital adjoining the casualty clearing station. He had many severe wounds, but I do not think he suffered a great deal of pain, considering. I gave him the Last Sacrament when he was admitted first, and yesterday evening, when I saw he was dying I gave him the Last Absolutions. He died a few hours afterwards. Your great consolation in your grief will be to know that he died a holy death, fortified by the Sacraments of the Church. God bless and comfort you."

Mrs. McCarthy has also received a letter signed by Lord Kitchener, stating "the King commands me to assure you of the true sympathy of his Majesty and the Queen in your sorrow."

Pte. McCarthy, who was in his 31st year, joined the Scots Guards in January, 1915. and went to the front last September. He was an "old boy" of St.James' R.C. School, Bootle, and before joining up was employed in the coal trade. He has a brother in the Dublin Fusiliers, who was wounded in action some time ago. Pte. McCarthy was a smart, well-set-up young soldier, highly popular with all who knew him. He leaves a widow and two little sons, to whom deep and sincere sympathy will be offered in their irreparable loss.

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