Rifleman 41299 James Hindley

• Age: 22
• From: Walkden, Lancashire
• Regiment: 2/6th Kings
• Died on Friday 4th October 1918
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem Ext
  Panel Ref: S.II.C.6

James Hindley was born in Walkden, Lancashire in the September quarter of 1896, the eldest son of Robert Hindley and his wife Sarah Alice (née Pollitt).  His parents married in 1894 and had three children; James had younger siblings Fred and Maude.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 81 Brackley Street, Walkden. James is 4 years of age and lives with his parents. His father, Robert, is is a 30 year old farrier, born at Farnworth, Lancashire in 1871, whilst his mother is a 33 year old cotton frame tenter, born in Worsley, Lancashire in 1868.  

In 1911 the family is found at 75 Harriett Street, Walkden. His father, 40, is recorded as a colliery farrier, whilst his mother is 43, with no occupation recorded. James is 14, an office boy in a cotton mill, Fred is 8 and Maude 6.

James enlisted in Atherton, Lancashire, and was posted as Private 41299 to the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. At some point he was transferred to the 2/6th Battalion K.L.R.

James died of wounds on 04th October 1918 and he now rests at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to father Robert.

James is commemorated on the Men of Worsley Memorial.

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