James Rooney
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
James Rooney was born in 1897 at Nottingham and was the son of the late James Rooney a bricklayers labourer and Hannah Rooney nee Barnes. His father James Rooney was born in 1834 at Cambridge, he died in 1901 aged 67 yrs his mother Hannah Barnes was born in 1872 at Wisbech, they were married in 1890 at Nottingham and went on the have the following children, Elizabeth b1895, James b1897 and Florence b1898 all were born in Nottingham. His mother Hannah Rooney re married in 1902 at Nottingham to William Spencer. In the 1911 census the family were living at 52 Bovill Street, Radford Nottingham and were shown as William Spencer 40 yrs a coal miner, he is living with his wife Hannah Spencer 39 yrs and their children, Elizabeth Rooney 16 yrs, a lace finisher, James Rooney 14 yrs a cotton worker, Florence Rooney 10 yrs a scholar (all are listed as step children) William Spencer 7 yrs, Dorothy Spencer 6 yrs and Wallace Spencer 2 yrs.
Rifleman James Rooney enlisted on 6th April 1915,( said to be his 19th birthday – but his age was given as 14 in the 1911 Census ) he landed in France on 6th July 1915. According to his service record, he was wounded on 27th November 1915 but the date is given as 20th November 1915 in the family notice. The battalion was not in the line on the former date. His injuries led to his discharge as no longer physically fit for service on 4th July 1916. Dying as a civilian at Lambeth he is not recorded as a casualty of war by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Obituary published 10th February 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- 'Rooney. Died of wounds February 3rd, Rifleman J Rooney age 20, received in action November 20th 1915, after a painful illness. - RIP Lizzie and Sam.' Above obituary and service information is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
No Photos