James William Massey (1893 - 1916)

Born 9 Mar 1893 in Woodville, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, England

Husband of Mary Elizabeth (Eyley) Eaglefield — married 5 Jan 1916 (to 1 Jul 1916) in Linton, Derbyshire, England

Descendants

Died 1 Jul 1916 at age 23 in Somme, France

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Biography

James was born in 1893 to Eliza Jane Massey.^[1][2]

In 1901, James (Milner) was living at 47 Princess Street, Church Gresley.^[3] In 1911, he was listed in the census as James William Milner and he was a pony driver in a coal pit.^[4]

On 11 Feb 1913, he signed up as a territorial to Sherwood Foresters, 1/5 Battalion Nottingham and Derbyshire Regiment of the British Army. He was 19 years and 11 months old and 5ft 5.5 in. tall. He stated he was a miner at Netherseal Colliery Co. Ltd. and lived at 41 Princes St, Castle Gresley, Derbyshire.^[5]

On 5 January 1916, James married Mary Elizabeth Eyley,^[6][7] the mother of his child, Elsie May Eyley. He had acknowledged Elsie and had been supporting her since at least May 1915, when he had been paying fourpence a day towards her welfare.

Private James Massey 1791 fought in France during 1915 and 1916. He suffered a severe contusion to his back and left side as result of mine explosion on 23/9/15 and was evacuated to 11 Gen Hospital, Boulogne and then to Convalescent Hospital, Eastbourne from where he was discharged on 30/10/1915. He also spent from 18/2/1916 to 16/3/1916 at Bulwell Isolation Hospital with scabies. He was one of the 20,000 killed on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

After his death, his personal effects were returned to Mary, a pocket book, handkerchief, tin box, comb, knife, snuff box, tin lobster, canvas bag, 2 pencils and a letter. Mary had a 15 shillings a week pension for herself and Elsie awarded on 29 Jan 1917.

James's family were awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.

James was buried at the Foncquevillers Military Cemetery in Pas de Calais, France. The inscription on his headstone reads: Never forgotten by his loving wife and child.^[8] He is also commemorated on the Church Gresley War Memorial.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2ND3-WJ6 : 1 October 2014), James William Massey, 1893; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. ↑ South Derbyshire BDM Baptism Record
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XS7V-9BP : 8 April 2016), James Milner in household of Charles Milner, Church Gresley (Derby), Staffordshire, England; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Gresley subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW7J-6BT : 2 August 2017), James W Milner in household of Charles B Milner, Church Gresley, Castle Gresley, Staffordshire, England; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
5. ↑ First name(s) James William
   Last name Massey
   Age 19
   Birth year 1894
   Birth town Swadlincote
   Birth county Derbyshire
   Birth country England
   Service number 1791
   Regiment Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment)
   Unit / Battalion 1/5th Battalion
   Year 1913
   Residence county Derbyshire
   Residence country England
   Series WO 363
   Series description WO 363 - First World War service records 'burnt documents'
   Archive The National Archives
   Record set British Army Service Records
   Category Military, armed forces & conflict
   Subcategory First World War
   Collections from Great Britain
   Accessed from www.findmypast.org.uk 12 Nov 2016
6. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26X5-YCJ : 13 December 2014), James W Massey and Mary E. Eyley, 1916; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1916, quarter 1, vol. 6B, p. 573, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
7. ↑ Entry 91
   Date: 05 January
   Year: 1916
   Forename: James William
   Surname: Massey
   Age: 22
   Condition: Bachelor
   Rank: Soldier
   Residence: 41 Princess Street, Castle Gresley
   Father's Name ----------
   Father's Rank ----------
   Forename: Mary Elizabeth
   Surname: Eyley
   Age 19
   Condition: Spinster
   Residence: Main Street, Linton
   Father's Name: James Eyley
   Father's Rank: Collier
   Christ Church, Linton Marriages
8. ↑ Commonwealth War Graves Commission
9. ↑ Church Gresley War Memorial