Tipton

Remembers

Private 8324 James Skidmore


Killed in Action on Thursday, 12th November 1914, age 29.
Commemorated on Panel 34 of Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

2nd Bn., Worcestershire Regiment. 5th Brigade of 2nd Division.

Son of the late Frederick and Mary Ann Skidmore; husband of Nancy Kendrick (formerly Skidmore), of 47, Trouse Lane, Wednesbury, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Dudley, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, 12th August 1914.
Medal entitlement: 1914 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/916976/


Genealogical Data

Birth of James Skidmore registered June quarter 1885 in Dudley.

1901 Census
No trace of James Skidmore. He was not resident at his parent's house (2/3 New Cross Street, Tipton). As he was employed as a Canal Boatman, it is possible he was on a boat on census night.

Married Nancy Stanford 1st August 1909 at St Martin's Church, Tipton.
Children: James Edward Skidmore born 1st January 1910 and Nancy Irene born 15th June 1912.

1911 Census
4 Parker Place, Tipton, Staffs
James Skidmore (26, Botaman, born Tipton), his wife Nancy (27, born Tipton), and their only child James (1, born Tipton).
This was also their address in August 1914 when James applied for separation allowance on being called back to the Worcesters, also in June 1915 when Nancy was applying for the pension in respect of her late husband. Nancy was awarded 18/6d (92pence!) for herself and the two children.

By May 1919 when the 1914 Star was being distributed, Nancy had re-married and was now Mrs Kendrick of 6 Church Steps, Wednesbury. Nancy had married Thomas Kendrick in March quarter 1917.


Personal Data

There are a number of errors associated with James Skidmore.
Firstly,
he is incorrectly recorded as Skindmore on Tipton Library Scroll.
Secondly,
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records James Skidmore as belonging to the 2nd Worcesters, but I believe him to have been killed whilst serving with the 3rd Worcesters. The Casualty Form recording his death is signed by the Officer Commanding 3rd Worcesters and records "Killed in action and buried by East Lancs Regiment at Ploegsteert." From the beginning of November, the 3rd Worcesters were in the area of Ploegsteert alongside an East Lancs Battalion, while the 2nd Worcesters were 10 miles away fighting at Nonne Bosschen (Nun's Wood) at the tail end of the first Battle of Ypres. Additionally a later Army Memorandum referring to his effects states Private James Skidmore, 3rd Battalion Worcesters. Also, he appears in the 3rd Battalion Star Roll (Medal Roll) at Kew (Ref L/2/5/ page 88) does not appear on the 2nd Battalion Worcesters Burial Register.
Thirdly,
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records his death as being 12th November 1914. His Soldier's Papers have an entry saying 'Killed in Action 7th November', but this is crossed out an entry made saying "presumptive date 12th November." This means there was no definitive report of his death, but that on the 12th he was given a presumptive date of death as no better information existed. I believe that the entry for the 7th November may be correct but could not be confirmed. There were 76 men of the 3rd Worcesters killed on the 7th November, and none on the 12th when they were out of the line.
Fourthly,
If Pte. James Skidmore was 3rd Battalion, as suspected, then he should be commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial and not on the Menin Gate.

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James Skidmore enlisted in the Worcesters on 7th April 1904 in Dudley, aged 18 years and 7 months. His occupation was Boatman, he was 5 feet 3½ inches tall with a 31½-inch chest, weighed 108 pounds, blue eyed, with brown hair with a fresh complexion, and he was Church of England.

James served in Tipperary and Aldershot, and on 3rd November 1905 sailed aboard the S.S. Oratovo landing on the 28th November in Ceylon, where he served with the 2nd Worcesters until January 1907, returning to England on the S.S. Omrah. In April 1907 he completed his 3 years in the army at that point with the 3rd Worcesters, and transferred to the Reserves for his 9 years commitment as a Reservist.

Much of James' time in Aldershot in 1905 was disrupted because of 3 spells, totalling 129 days, of hospitalisation with a moderately severe case of syphilis and gonorrhoea, thought to have been contracted in January 1905 in Aldershot. His time in Ceylon was also disrupted by 124 days hospitalisation, suffering from soft chancre, an accidental wound to his hand and inflamed lymph glands.

In April 1907 when James completed his service in the Worcesters and transferred to the reserves, his address was given as 22 New Cross Street, Tipton.


Action resulting in his death

As a Reservist, James was liable to be called back to the Worcesters immediately. He was mobilised on 5th August 1914 and according to his Service Papers posted to the 3rd Battalion, and just a week later on the 12th August sailed to France. He was to see much bitter fighting before his death in November: Mons, the Retreat from Mons, Le Cateau, Marne, Aisne, La Bassée before his final action at Ploegsteert.

On 2nd November, the 3rd Worcesters took a line on the eastern edge of Ploegsteert Wood facing the German positions. The Worcester's trenches were shallow and waterlogged, and were overlooked from the Messines Ridge and under near constant fire. On 6th November the German artillery fire intensified, an attack looked likely but no reserves were available. Around 5 a.m. on the next morning, the Germans attacked under cover of fog breaking through the Worcester's line, much of which had been obliterated by the artillery bombardment. There was a counter-attack, but it was unable to dislodge the Germans who retained possession of the eastern edge of Ploegsteert.

From the 1st to 7th November 87 men of the 3rd Worcesters had been killed, 76 of them on the 7th. It is probable that James Skidmore was one of the 76 casualties on that day, his body was never identified and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres.


Newspaper Cuttings

None.