Pte 20418 George Richardson James

• Age: 30
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 1 LANCS FUSILS
• Died on Saturday 11th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 33

George Richardson James was born in Liverpool on 14^th April 1887 and was baptised in St. Peter’s Church on 02^nd May 1887, but his middle name was misheard as Bridson. His parents were living in Brown Street and his father was a porter.  Parents John James and Sarah Fox, both born in Liverpool, were married in St. Simon’s Church in 1872. They had eight children, four of whom sadly died.

In 1891 the family is living in court housing in Brown Street. His father is a warehouseman. George is 4 years of age and has older siblings Lizzie and Joseph.

They are still in Brown Street in 1901. His father is a shop porter for an outfitter’s.  His sister Martha J, and brother Joseph are in the home; George is 14, and working as a draper’s shop boy.

In 1911 they are still at 6 Brown Street. His father is a porter, but unemployed. George, 24, works for George Henry Lee, department store in the drapery department.  George’s nephew, Charles Dawson, 13, is in the household.

George enlisted in Liverpool as Private 17618 in 19^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was injured in July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, and after recuperating from his wounds, was transferred to ‘A’ Company, of the 1^st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers as Private 20418.  George was killed in action in the Ypres Salient on 11^th August 1917.  

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, 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.

George’s death was announced in the Liverpool Echo on 22^nd September 1917:

“Private George R. James, Lancashire Fusiliers, whose home was at 6 Brown Street, was killed in action on August 11. He joined the K.L.R. at the outbreak of war, and was wounded in July 1916.  Before joining up he was employed for 17 years by Messrs. George Henry Lee & co., Basnett Street, Liverpool.”

His effects went to his sister Mrs. Martha Jones, of 6 Brown Street, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool.  

George earned his three medals but sadly his Victory medal was returned.

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