1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment
William James was born in Cinderford in 1898. He was one of seven children, and the eldest son, of Elijah and Jane James of Bilson Green, Cinderford. After leaving school he was employed at The Crump Meadow Colliery near his home.
By 1918 lads such as William James were being conscripted from previously reserved occupations such as coal mining, and, at this time, there were references in the Dean Forest Mercury to this practice of ‘combing’ miners for the Forces.
He had been in France for only about seven weeks when he was killed in action on 28 March 1918, aged 19 years.
Thursday, 28 March 1918 was the first day of the German offensive, Operation Mars, astride the River Scarpe towards Arras and St Pol.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. He is also remembered on the Cinderford town War Memorial.