Major Herbert James (31 October 1887 – 15 August 1958) was an
English recipient of the
Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to
British and
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
forces.
Herbert James was born at 11 Ingleby Street in Ladywood, Birmingham. He was the son of Walter James and Emily James (née Danford). By the 1891 Census his family were living at 76 Three Shires Oak Road in Bearwood, Smethwick. He attended Bearwood Road Infants School and later went on to become a teacher there, and subsequently at Brasshouse Lane School.
[For King & Country; Smethwick's Two VCs of the First World War (Chris Sutton, 2012)]
James was 26 years old and a
second lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank.
Australia
The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...
in the 4th Battalion,
The Worcestershire Regiment,
British Army during the
First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 28 June 1915 in the southern zone of
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles ...
, when the advance of part of the regiment had been checked, Second-Lieutenant James, from a neighbouring unit, gathered together a body of men and led them forward under heavy fire. He then returned, organised a second party and again advanced, putting fresh life into the attack. On 3 July he headed a party of bomb throwers up a Turkish communication trench and when all his party had been killed or wounded, he remained alone, under murderous fire and kept back the enemy until a barrier had been built behind him and the trench secured.
James returned home, after his award of the VC and received Civic receptions in both Birmingham and Smethwick.
His family address, as of his visit in November 1915, was 141 Poplar Avenue in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
He later achieved the rank of
major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
. His medals are on display at the Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum in
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough ( ) is a city and a suburb in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. At the 2021 Census, Maryborough had a population of 15,287.
Geography
Maryborough is located on the Mary River in Queensland, Australia, approximate ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
Maryborough Museum
Two memorials to James were unveiled in 2010. on 2 July a memorial stone was unveiled at the East Chapel in Kensal Green Cemetery, where he was cremated.
References
Bibliography
*
External links
VC to be sold at auction
''(Kensal Green Cemetery)''
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Herbert
1887 births
1958 deaths
British Gallipoli campaign recipients of the Victoria Cross
Worcestershire Regiment officers
British Army personnel of World War I
Recipients of the Military Cross
People from Ladywood
Burials at Kensal Green Cemetery
East Lancashire Regiment officers
York and Lancaster Regiment officers
21st Lancers soldiers
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross
Military personnel from Birmingham, West Midlands