Pte 32485 James Alexander Thomas

• Age: 15
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

JAMES ALEXANDER THOMAS

James was born in Liverpool, on 06th June 1901, the eldest son of Charles William Jabez Thomas and his wife Ann (née Jackson).  His father, born in 1870 and his mother in 1873, both in Liverpool, married on 03rd June 1895 in St. Mary’s Church, Walton on the Hill and had seven children, one of whom died young. James was baptised 20th June 1901 at St Mary's Church, Kirkdale.

He was named James Alexander after his paternal grandfather and baptised on 20th June 1901 in St. Mary’s Church, Walton on the Hill, his parents’ residence given as 5 Ismay Street and his father’s occupation as labourer.  He had older sisters Ann, born in 1896 and Florence Maud, in 1897.

The 1901 census, taken just a few weeks before James was born, finds his parents living at 5 Ismay Street (off County Road), with two children. His father, 30, was a dock labourer, his mother was 27,  Ann is aged 5 born in 1896, and Florence aged 3, born in 1897. They had three more children after James:  William in 1903, Charles 1904, and Margaret in 1907.

His father Charles died in September 1906 aged 36, leaving his widow Annie with five children under ten years old and pregnant with a sixth. James was 5 years old when he lost his father. He spent his young life in the Cottage Homes (Orphanage) with at least 3 of his siblings. His mother,  Ann (my grandmother) kept very much in touch with the children.

By 1911 the three older children are found as inmates in the Children’s Cottage Homes, Longmoor Lane, Fazakerley.  Florence is 13, Annie 6, and Thomas James (sic), is 9.   This facility, opened in 1889 by the West Derby Union Poor Law, had 501 children in 19 cottages each with nine rooms, each cottage with a “foster mother”, as well as a hospital, workshops, a chapel and a swimming baths.

His mother and three younger siblings are living at 70 Brock Street, Kirkdale with his maternal grandparents, William and Ann Jackson.  William is 8, Charles 6 and Margaret 4. His mother 36, is working as an office cleaner.

When James came out of the Cottages Homes he was unemployed, as were many people at that time 1914-15. Family say he signed up with his friends so that his Mother would receive some money from him. He enlisted on 26th October 1915 aged only 14 years and 4 months and his letters home from France tell their own story.

James was serving in the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 32485 when he was killed in action at Guillemont on 30th July 1916, aged 15, he was the youngest of the Liverpool Pals to die in the 1st World War.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July.

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.  

His mother Annie, at 19 Nesfield Street, Walton Lane, received James’ Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £3, and was awarded a pension of 5/- a week from July 1917.

In 1939 Annie, 66, is at 15 Ismay Street, Walton with married daughter Ann Smith, 43.

James is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 36 (name added in 2014).

He was a young boy mature beyond his years, and was a kind loving son and brother and so brave. Too young to die at Guillemont. I know that my grandmother wrote to the Colonel of the Regiment with the help of a J.P. Mr Briggs, informing them how young James was. They believed that it was evidently illegal for someone of his age to go on the line. Maybe they were too late as James was killed in the Battle of the Somme on 30th July, 1916 aged just 15 years and 1 month.

James has never been forgotten by his family. I can remember his photograph on my grandmother’s wall alongside his medals. He was always part of the family and that is how I will always remember him. My grandmother wrote to the Graves Commission asking if there would be a memorial in this country. I still have a copy of their reply saying they were unable to erect memorials in this country. How sad for my grandmother whose young son never came home. How proud she would be today to see how well he is remembered especially the work done by the Liverpool Pals to commemorate the fallen soldiers. James is also remembered on the Roll of Honour at Liverpool Town Hall and on Christ Church Memorial, Everton . I have also visited the Thiepval Memorial where his name is engraved alongside so many others.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

My children and grandchildren all know the story of James and have read his letters. Recently his Great, Great nephew who lives in Oxfordshire came to Liverpool and saw the Liverpool Pals memorial in Lime Street station. His name is James and his brother is Alex, so the name still lives on.

JAMES – REST IN PEACE - YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

Barbara Thompson (nee Thomas) Niece.

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