Lance Corporal G/6959 James Gaskell

Family details:
Son of James and Betsy Gaskell, of 3, Andrew St., off Prescot St., Wigan.

Census details:
1901 - 2 years old James is living at 6 Brocstedes, Ashton in Makerfield with parents James (33), Betsy (30) and two siblings: Thomas (9), Martha (7). 1911 - Sees 12 years old James living at 1 Booths Brow North Ashton Nr Wigan with widowed father James (43) and brother Thomas (19). Also at the address is grandmother Mary Gaskell (76).

Notes:
[url=lmem.php?lmem=39]Remembered On The St. Aidan's C of E Church Memorial[/url]

Lance Corporal G/6959 6th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) (previously Royal Field Artillery) James was born on the 25th of April 1897 the son of James and Betsy Gaskell of `Brocstedes`, Downall Green, and was baptised on the 3rd of July 1897 at Holy Trinity C.E. Church, Ashton (Downall Green). He went to Holy Trinity School and then worked for Crompton`s hinge and lock manufacturer, as did his father, but later went down the coal mine before enlisting at St. Helens with his brother Thomas to join the Royal Field Artillery. James transferred to The Buffs and while serving in France was reported missing and later killed in action on Saturday the 7th of October 1916. He was 19 years old and is buried in the Bancourt British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France, grave VIII.A.1. His name is recorded on St. Aidan`s C.E. Church Memorial. Sources:- St. Helens Local History Library, Soldiers killed in the Great War; The Commonwealth War Graves Commission; St. Aidan`s Parish Magazine, May 1915 and July 1917; The Wigan Examiner, 26th of May 1917. [url=http://sthelens-connect.net/sitefiles/billinge-history.pdf]Information Courtesy of The Billinge History Society[/url] [pic]imgs/WW1_headstones/GaskellJ_EastKents.jpg[/pic][caption]The headstone of Lance Corporal James Gaskell at Bancourt British Cemetery (Photograph courtesy of Ste M.)[/caption]