No.124545, Gunner, James William ATTLESEY
Aged 26
1st Reserve Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Died of Illness at Home on Tuesday, 5th November 1918
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James Willam Attlesey was born in 12th October 1891 in Newmarket (Newmarket Q4-1890 3B:527), son of John and Julia ATTLESEY (née JOHNSON).
1901 census...Aged 10, he was at Brook Street, Soham with his father John ATTLESEY [40] Innkeeper/help in racing stable, born Soham; his mother Julia [39] born Soham; sisters Julia [14] and Elizabeth [6] both born in Newmarket and Florrie [1] born in Soham; brother Bertie [6] born In Newmarket. His elder brother John was boarding in Newmarket, with the PRIGG family on Exning Road. 1911 census...Aged 20 a coach builder, he was at Speed Lane, Soham with his parents, brother Birt (farm labourer), sister Flory and sister Mabel [7] born Soham. Also a boarder, Sophey ATTLESEY [59] single, born Soham. His brother John had entered the 4th Suffolks in Ely on 25th March 1907, but was discharged on 20th January 1908 and was now a nurseryman gardener at Dore in Derbyshire. He married Elizabeth DEW at the Parish Church , Prickwillow on September 25th 1912. They had three children, Florence Mabel (Ely) 27 Feb 1913, Cyril James (Soham) 13-Aug 1914 and Ronald William (Soham) 28-12-1916. The pension card has his widow and children still in Speed lane. |
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He attested in Newmarket on 12th December 1915, in the Royal Field Artillery # 124545 giving his age as 25 years 2 months, a coachbuilder from Speed Lane,
Soham. 5 feet 7.5 inches (171.5 cm) tall, weighing 141 lbs 64.2 kg), chest 37" to 39.5" (94 to 110.3 cm), Church of England. Next of kin father J Attlesey, Speed Lane, Soham.
Placed on reserve and mobilised on 12 April 1916, posted 4th? Reserve Brigade 10-5-1916, then entries are illegible, then posted 1st RFA Res Brigade on 14th March
1917. He was discharged as permanently physically unfit on 6th June 1917. His notes from Military Hospital in Ripon on 2nd May 1917 say there was no evidence of family history of phthisis. Complained of shortness of
breath, poor appetite and pains in left side of his chest... cause tubercle bacilli, not cause by military service (pre condition) or aggravated by military
service. Decision was total incapacity for 6 months, will not require treatment as outpatient. Consistency was not a strong point in those days obviously since it appears a later form in his pension records has "this man's condition may be treated as aggravated by military service. There is a further sheet pertaining to medical boards and pension but it it just too difficult to read. Whether James died at home or in hospital is not clear,but the pension card records he died of influenza.pneumonia contracted on active service. It is doubtful that the documentation is sufficient to have him recorded by CWGC but his death certificate will be acquired just in case.(04/2020). He is buried in Soham.
He is not recorded by CWGC or "Soldiers Died" |
