Pte 48282 James Blanchard

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 25th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

James was born in Kirkdale, Liverpool in the 4th quarter of 1894 the only son of John Blanchard and his wife Henrietta (née Robinson) who were married in 1893 at West Derby Registry Office. 
 
The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 23 Pelops Street, Kirkdale. His father, John, is a 31 year old house joiner, born in Liverpool, his mother Henrieta is 32 years of age, with no occupation listed, also born in Liverpool. James has two younger sisters Ellen, aged 3 and new born Edith.  
 
By 1911 the family are living at 44 Queens Road, Bootle. His father is a 41 year old joiner's machinist, his mother is 43 years old. They advised that they have been married for 17 years and have had three children. James is now 16 and employed as an errand boy for Millers & Bakers. His sisters, Ellen aged 13 and Edith aged 10 are still at school.  

James enlisted in Liverpool and originally served with the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment but following a transfer he was serving with the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 48282 when he was killed in action on 25th April 1917, aged 22.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 22nd May 1917:

Killed in Action

Blanchard - April 25 killed in action aged 22 years. James, the beloved son of John and Henrietta Blanchard, 22 Bedford-road, Bootle. 

His death was also reported in the Nottingham and Midland Catholic News on May 26th 1917;

Private James Blanchard, of the King's Liverpool Regiment, killed in action, was 21 years of age, and the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard, of 22, Bedford Road, Bootle. 

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

James earned two medals,the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

We currently have no further information on James Blanchard, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.