James Moore
He was listed as a hawker on the 1911 Census.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
James Moore was born in 1887 at Nottingham, he was the son of Thomas Morre a railway porter and later scene shifter in a theatre and Ellen Morre née Jackson of 154 Waterway Street, Meadows, Nottingham and the brother of Emma,Thomas, Ellen, Sarah, John, Albert and Benny Moore.
His father was born in 1858 at West Bromwich, his mother Ellen Jacksonwas born in 1861 at Nottingham, they were married on 6th October 1884 at St John's Church (Leenside) Nottingham, they went on to have 10 chldren, sadly 1 was to die in infancy or early childhood.
In 1901 they lived at 2 Taylor's Yard Nottingham.
In the 1911 census the family are living at 154 Waterway Street, Nottingham, Thomas 51 yrs is a scene shifter in a threatre, he is living with his wife Ellen 48 yrs and their children, James 24 yrs a hawker, Ellen 20 yrs a cotton winder, Saraha Jane 18 yrs a cotton winder, John 16 yrs an errand boy, Albert 14 yrs an errand boy, Sarah 13 yrs of age scholar and Edward 7 yrs of age.
James married his wife Contance Hewitt they were married on 8th August 1911 at St John's Church Leenside, Nottingham, they lived at 27 Taylors Yard when they were married, later 55 Maltmill Lane, Notingam.
Battalions attacking Ovillers on 1st July 1916 had to cross 'Mash Valley' one of the widest expanses of No Man's Land (750 yards) along the entire Somme front. Today, looking from Ovillers Cemetery (German front line) towards distant houses (British front line) across open fields offering little cover, the magnitude of their task is still evident. 11th Battalion Sherwood Foresters' War Diary recorded:
'Casualties along the whole line were very heavy and a general attempt was made to crawl forward under intense machine gun and shrapnel fire, any available cover being made use of.... Lt Colonel Watson, walking diagonally across the front collecting men as he went gave fresh impetus to the advance by his personal example... A third attempt, led by Captain C E Hudson to reach the German trenches by the sunken road on the right flank was made but... was brought to a standstill by heavy frontal and flank fire as they came over the brow of the hill in the last 80 yards. The casualties sustained by the battalion during the day amounted to 21 officers and 508 men. The strength of the battalion on entering the trenches on 26th June was 27 officers and 710 men.' 11th Bn Sherwood Foresters War Diary TNA WO95/21871(3).
125 men from 11th Battalion Sherwood Foresters were killed during the attack on Ovillers (CWGC Debt of Honour Register).* John Cotterill adds 'The man who brought the 11th Foresters out of action on 1 July and, one of the 6 unwounded officers, was Capt Edward Hudson who would go on to get a VC as CO of 11th Foresters on Asiago Plateau in Italy in 1918'.
2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment suffered 264 fatalities during the same advance. Concerns of their CO Lieutenant Colonel Edward Thomas Falkiner Sandys DSO, a brave and well respected officer, that his battalion would be badly mauled crossing such an expanse of open ground with uncut wire an added hazard, did not impress his superiors. Sandys was wounded during the attack and evacuated to the UK. Depressed at the fate of so many men who had trusted him, Sandys shot himself in a London hotel room and died a few days later.
8th Division's Official History records a total of 5,121 casualties on 1st July 1916.
Military Research by David Nunn
Private James Moore enlisted at Nottingham, he served with the 11th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment, he was killed in action on 1st July 1916 the first day of the battle of the Somme, during the attack on Ovillers. Having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Two of his brothers also served and died during the Great War:-
Lance Corporal 14105 Thomas Moore 9th battalion Sherwood Forester Regiment, kia 21st September 1916 and buried at Pozieres Brtish Cemetery.
Private 5138 Albert Moore 2nd battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment, kia 16th September 1916, having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Additiona family research and information Peter Gillings
No Man's Land from Ovillers
Photo: David Nunn
Photo of James Moore
Thiepval Memorial,