James McVey

James McVey ‘We have not had a shave or a wash for six days nor have I used a knife and fork with our meals. My tunic is badly torn and my trousers have no seat left in them. Yet I am dandy compared with many of the men, few have got puttees and many have hardly any clothes left’. (a) So stated a company officer of the battalion (1st Cheshires) describing the effects of the battle in which L/Sgt James McVey was killed in action on 21 August 1918 being one of the battles which hammered the Germans to defeat at the latter part of that year. James was born at 54 Creswell Street, Worksop and named after his father, a surface worker at Shireoaks pit. The family moved to the Manchester area and then to Glossop from where James was conscripted shortly after his father had signed up for the Royal Engineers’ Labour Section – the regular income of 3/- per day probably a big attraction. James (senior) was discharged because of ill health in March 1917 and died in the Autumn of 1918. Mrs Mary Jane McVey heard of her son’s death whilst nursing her terminally sick husband who died shortly afterwards, she may be regarded as another casualty of the war. James had no known grave and his name appears on Panel 6 on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. (a) Quoted by Peter Hart in ‘1918 A Very British Victory’ Weidenfeld & Nicholson 2008. Courtesy of Robert Illett

CWG additional information:- Son of Mrs. J. McVey, and the late Lce. Cpl. James McVey, of 27, Dintiny Lane, Glossop, Derbyshire.