Private
South Staffordshire Regiment | 39822 | 1/6th Battalion |
Photo Derbyshire Times
Biography
Born in 1883, James was a quarryman. He married Emma Limb at St Mary’s, Crich in 1909. A society steward, sunday school superintendent and organist at the Crich Wesleyan chapel before the war he was posted to France in 1917. He was wounded and gassed and then killed in action on 21st August 1918. James was buried at Fouquieres Churchyard Extension, near Béthune and is remembered on the memorials in the Wesleyan Chapel and outside St Mary’s at Crich.
Newspaper reports
Derbyshire Courier, 6 April 1918
WOUNDED
Pte. James Mason, Crich
Derbyshire Times , 31 August 1918
CRICH SOLDIER KILLED
Mrs Mason, of Crich Common, received the news on Monday that her husband Pte. James Wm. Mason, South Staffs, was killed in action in France on the 20th inst and was buried on the 22nd. He was 34 years of age and leaves a wife but no family. He enlisted just over a year ago and went to France last November, and had been wounded and gassed. Prior to joining up he was superintendent of the Wesleyan Sunday School, organist and a vocalist of some repute.
Derbyshire Courier, 12 October 1918
On Friday at the Wesleyan Church, Crich, a memorial service was held for Private James Mason, who fell in action in France on 20 August. The service was conducted by the Rev G D Mason of Matlock. Private Mason had held the office of society steward, Sunday School superintendent and church organist at the Wesleyan church for many years.
James is remembered on the memorial tablet in the Wesleyan Chapel, Crich.
Photo courtesy Peter Patilla
Medal Roll Index Card
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
Name | MASON, JAMES WILLIAM |
Initials | J W |
Nationality | United Kingdom |
Rank | Private |
Regiment/Service | South Staffordshire Regiment |
Unit | 1/6th Bn |
Age | 35 |
Date of Death | 21/08/1918 |
Service No | 39822 |
Additional information | Son of James William and Eliza Mason, of Crich; husband of E. Mason, of 4, East View, The Common, Crich, Matlock. |
Casualty type | Commonwealth War Dead |
Grave/Memorial Reference | IV. C. 9. |
Cemetery | FOUQUIERES CHURCHYARD EXTENSION |
Soldiers' Effects Book
James William Mason;
1/6th Bn Sth Staffs Regt; Pte 29822; killed in action 21.8.18; War Gratuity £3 10s 0d; paid out to:
22.11.18 widow Emma £11 4s 11d
3.12.19 widow Emma £3 10s 0d
James Mason's brothers Charles Mason, Arhur Mason and William Mason are also on the Roll of Honour.
1891: Crich
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Information | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
James W | Mason | Head | 31 | Stone mason | Liverpool |
Eliza | Mason | wife | 28 | Crich | |
William | Mason | son | 11 | Scholar | Crich |
Charles R | Mason | son | 9 | Scholar | Crich |
James Wm | Mason | son | 7 | Scholar | Crich |
Herbert | Mason | son | 5 | Scholar | Crich |
Ernest | Mason | son | 1 | Crich |
RG12 piece 2746 folio 56 page 4
1901: Crich Common
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Information | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
James W | Mason | Head | 41 | Stone mason | Liverpool |
Eliza | Mason | wife | 39 | Crich | |
William | Mason | son | 21 | Factory hand machine minder | Crich |
Charles R | Mason | son | 19 | Stone mason | Crich |
James W | Mason | son | 17 | Quarryman gritstone | Crich |
Herbert | Mason | son | 15 | Factory hand | Crich |
Ernest | Mason | son | 11 | Crich | |
Arthur | Mason | son | 7 | Crich | |
Amy | Mason | daughter | 4 | Crich |
RG13 piece 3231 folio 19 page 29
1911: Park Head, Crich
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Information | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
James William (jnr) | Mason | Head | 27 | Quarryman limestone | Crich |
Emma | Mason | wife | 27 | Wheatcroft |
RG14PN20984 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED13 SN75
1918 Voters List
James William Mason, The Common, absent on military service.