His full name was Richard Thomas James and he was born in Flint in 1892 and baptised 21st December, 1892 in St Mary’s Parish Church, Flint. He was the fourth of five children to David James (known as Davy Bendigo) and Catherine (Jones).
Davy was born in Poynsgreen, Durham and Catherine in Flint and they married on 8th November, 1884 at St Mary’s Parish Church, Flint.
The James family lived at 4, Bryn Houses, Flint for many years but by the 1911 census they had moved to 22, Mumforth Street. Davy was an engine driver at he silk works and Richard a farm servant.
Prior to his army service Richard was employed by the British Glanzstoff Works, Flint and was unmarried.
He enlisted in Flint in about September, 1914 and two months later, on 24th November, his father died, aged 57, and was buried in the Northop Road Cemetery, Flint.
On the morning of Wednesday 26th January, 1916 the sad intelligence reached Flint that Private James had died in Nachrish Schools Military Hospital, Cairo, on the 7th January, from the effects of uraemic convulsions.
Earlier that week a letter was received from Private George Williams, whose home was at the Bryn Houses, Flint, by his friends in Flint intimating that James had died in hospital. Then a communication was made to the Records (Territorial) Office at Shrewsbury, with the result the official notification of the death of James was forwarded to his mother. A few days previous a letter was received from James to the effect that he had recovered from his serious illness and had been sent to rejoin his Battalion near Cairo.
The usual printed notice signed by Lord Kitchener, conveying the King’s Sympathy, accompanied the intelligence from the Shrewsbury Records’ Office.
He was buried in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt (Plot D, Grave 249), and is remembered on two war memorials – Flint Town and St Mary’s Parish Church, Flint.
He is also remembered on his parents’ headstone in the Northop Road Cemetery, Flint (Grave 8, Line 28, South Side) and was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Richard’s mother died on 30th November, 1928, aged 71, at her residence, 22, Mumforth Street, and buried with her husband and their granddaughter Iris James who died in 1925 aged 5. Catherine was a member of the Church of England, and was well known and highly respected in the town.
IN MEMORIAM
We little thought when we parted last
He would no more return;
Now he lies in a distant grave,
And we are left to mourn.
No loved one stood beside him
To hear his last farewell,
No word of comfort could he have
From those he loved so well.
Sadly missed by Mother, Sisters and Brothers.
(County Herald 12th January, 1917)
Nobly you did your duty,
Two years today you fell,
But the sorrow of those that mourn you,
Only aching hearts can tell.
It may be a soldier’s honour,
For his country’s cause to fall,
But we cannot think of the glory
For the pain it has caused us all.
Sadly missed by his Mother, Brothers and Sisters.
(County Herald 11th January, 1918)
Days of sadness still come o’er us,
Hidden tears do often flow,
But memory keeps our dear one near us
Though he died three years ago.
Ever remembered by his Mother, Brothers and Sisters.
(County Herald 10th January, 1919)
We loved him, yes, no tongue can tell,
How deep, how dearly, and how well,
Christ loved him too, and thought it best,
To take him home with Him to rest.
Ever remembered by his Mother, Brothers and Sisters.
(County Herald 9th January, 1920)
There is a link death cannot sever,
Love and remembrance last for ever.
Ever remembered by Mother, Brother and Sister.
(County Herald 7th January, 1921)
To-day recalls sad memories
That time can never heal.
Only the thought of bygone days,
And the sight of a face unseen.
22, Mumforth Street, Flint.
(County Herald 13th January, 1928)