Pte 64769 James Cheetham

• Age: 20
• From: Lydiate
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

James Cheetham was born in 1897 in Lydiate, Lancs, and was the son of James and Maria (nee Lamb) Cheetham of Southport Rd, Haskayne, Ormskirk, who married in 1896 at St Cuthbert's Halsall. He was baptised on 11th Nov 1897 at St Thomas, Lydiate. He had three brothers and a sister James, Robert, Thomas and Maria.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Canal Bank, Lydiate. His father, James, is aged 25, and is a canal barge boatman who was born in Halsall, and his wife Maria aged 25 was born in Lydiate. They had two children James aged 3 and Robert aged 1 who were both born in Lydiate.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at Southport Road, Haskayne, Ormskirk. His father, James, is now aged 35, and is employed as a lighterman, and his mother, Maria, is aged 35 with no occupation listed. They have been married for 14 years and have five children; James is aged 13, Robert is aged 11, Thomas is aged 9 and Alfred is aged 8 were both born in Lydiate, and daughter Alice aged 6 was born in Haskayne.

James enlisted at Southport and was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 64769 when he was killed in action between 21st - 28th March 1918, aged 20, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the chaotic events of the day

28^th March

At about 6am the enemy commenced to shell heavily the whole of the forward line and brought Trench Mortars and MACHINE Guns into action.

FOLIES was shelled and the area in the rear of the village as far back as LE QUESNEL.

Rations were received at dawn and parties were organised to carry them to the Companies on the right. Owing to the heavy fire, however, it was not possible to get them up.

Heavy fighting was in progress on the right from soon after dawn and at 8am the enemy was reported to be in possession of BOUCHOIR and progressing towards the BEETROOT FACTORY. About 10am  the 59^th Infy Brigade was notified that it was relieved by the French and the Battalions of that Brigade were at once withdrawn in the direction of LE QUESNEL.

At noon the enemy was bombarding the village and vicinity heavily and reports were received that he was in occupation of WARVILLERS on the left and ARVILLERS on the right.

The front line East of FOLIES continued to resist until about 2pm when the order was received from the 89^th Infy Brigade to the effect that the Battalions were relieved by the French and would withdraw at once to MEZIERES, where the men would be fed. Companies withdrew under some shelling and very heavy M.G. and rifle fire from the left , through K10 -K3 – North side LE QUESNEL to the main ROYE road and reorganised about D.29 c. The march from this point was conducted in good order despite the congested roads.

At MEZIERES it was decided to continue a rearward movement and the march was resumed via VILLERS-MOREUIL – MORISEL – ROUVREL, which village was reached about 7pm and the Battalion billeted. The men had marched 13 miles from the left position in good order and with practically no straggling. They were exhausted on arrival at ROUVREL, but in good heart.

Echelon ‘A’ of the Transport joined the Battalion at this village and the men were fed immediately on arrival. The night passed without incident.   

James has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial. 

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Wednesday 24th April 1918;

ORMSKIRK MEN. 

Private James Cheetham, son of Mr. J. Cheetham of Haskayne, and attached the K.L.R., has been killed action.

Also in the Ormskirk Advertiser on Thursday 25th March 1920;

CHEETHAM – In loving memory our James Cheetham, K.L.R. (Pals), reported killed action, March 21-28, 1918. Though not lost but gone before us, 

He will never be forgot; 

Sweet his memory to the lonely,

In our hearts he’ll perish not. 

Treasured deep within our memory.

- Always ever remembered by Father, Sisters, and Brothers. - Meadow Cottages, Haskayne, near Ormskirk. 

Soldier’s effects of £4 3s 3d, war gratuity of £4 to his father James and pension to his mother Maria.

He is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Halsall Civic Memorial

St Thomas C of E Church Lydiate

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