Pte 10037 James Isely

• Age: 20
• From: Woolton, Liverpool
• Regiment: MGC
• Died on Wednesday 15th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Ypres (menin Gate) Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 56

James was born on 11^th November 1896, the only son of James Isely and Eliza Alice (nee Jones). He was  baptised on 3^rd January 1897 in St. Peter’s Woolton. His parents were married in the same church on 21^st February 1895, giving their residence as Woolton, and James’ occupation as cowman.  His father was born in Upton Rocks, Lancashire, and his mother in Woolton.  A daughter, Margaret Alice, was born in 1902.

In 1901 they are living at the caretaker’s cottage, in Rose Street, Much Woolton.  His father James is a garden labourer and his mother Eliza is the caretaker, mission rooms.   James is 4.  Their address in 1902 at daughter Margaret’s baptism is Mission Cottages, Vale Road, Woolton.  (According to a Woolton history website, The Mission Cottages had been converted by St. Peter's Church for the use of the local residents for religious education, as many area residents were so poor they felt their clothes were not good enough to attend church.)

James was a member of Woolton Church Junior Bible Class and of the Church Scout Patrols.

In 1911 the family is at 34 Gladstone Street, Woolton.  His father is a garden labourer.  James is 14, working as a sudsman’s shop boy (the occupation code on the census form indicates grain merchant).   His sister Margaret is not listed in the household.

Before enlisting, James was an apprentice with Rowlands Nurseries, Childwall.

Unfortunately, James’ service record has not survived, therefore the details of his military service are not known.  He would have been 17 when war was declared.  A Woolton website states that James  joined the King’s Liverpool Regiment on 20th May 1915 (he would have been 18 years old).  James enlisted as Pte 27353 in 19^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment and subsequently transferred to 168^th Company, Machine Gun Corps.  This company was not formed until March 1916, so James transferred some time after that date as Private 10037. 

The Woolton website also claims that James had been shot in the foot on 9th April 1917 and was at one of the base Hospitals in France for 3 months. He had only been back in line for two weeks when he was killed.

His parents were no doubt relieved by the news in the Liverpool Daily Post on 28^th June 1917, when James was listed as Previously reported Wounded, now reported Not Wounded.

However, less than two months later, on 15^th August 1917 while serving in the Ypres Salient, James was killed in action aged 20 years.  His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost, and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres.  

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.

James' death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 21^st September 1917.

James’ effects, including a War Gratuity, and Pension of 3/6d went to his parents (an additional pension of 5/- was refused).  They were then living at 15 Cam Street, Woolton, later changed to 176 Hartsbourne Ave., Childwall, Liverpool.

One can only wonder at his parents’ emotions when the armistice was signed on what would have been their only son’s 22^nd birthday.

In 1939 his parents and sister Margaret were still living at 56 Vale Road.  His parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on 21^st February 1945.  His father died in 1950, aged 77, and his mother died at the age of 88 in 1963.

James is commemorated on St. Peter’s C of E Church, Woolton.

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