No. 12295, Company Sergeant Major, James Alfred WEBB
Aged 23
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James Alfred WEBB (known as Alf) was born in Haverhill on 11th September 1893 (Risbridge Q4-1893 4A:671), son of Daniel William and Harriett WEBB (née THAKE).
1901 census...Aged 8, he was at 36 Burton End, Haverhill with his father Daniel W WEBB [44] warehouseman; his mother Harriett [44] coat machinist; sisters Emily G [23] coat machinist, Annie M [16] suit finisher, Alice R [14];brother Daniel W [18] journeyman baker; widowed grandmother Rebecca THAKE [72]. All were Haverhill born. 1911 census... Aged 17, clothing factory folder, he was at 26 Shepherd's Cottages (Burton End) Haverhill with his parents (father now gatekeeper and mother at home); sister Alice Rebecca (machinist) and grandmother Rebecca THAKE. He married Daisy FARRANT [10-11-1894] in 1915 in Haverhill. Her address later was "La Boisselle", Raynes Road, Chelmsford. The pension cards have his father at 26 Vine Cottages, Haverhill. Wdow Dasisy was at "next to Rosedale", Raynes Road, Braintree. |
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Alf enlisted in the army at Chelmsford and the South-West Suffolk Echo reported on 26th September 1914, that he had joined the 9th Battalion, Essex Regiment with the rank of Lance Corporal and so it seems likely that he had previous military service. He landed in Boulogne on 31st May 1915. He died of his wounds at No.37 Field Ambulance. The South West Suffolk Echo of 28th July 1917 reported that:- "Readers will regret that Mrs.J.A.Webb has this week received official information that her husband, Company -Sergeant-Major James Alfred Webb of the Essex Regt., has died as a result of wounds received in action in France on 11th inst. He was only 23 years of age and was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. D.W.Webb, of 26 Vine Cottages, Haverhill. Sergt-Major Webb met his death in the trenches on the morning of July 11th, a bullet entering his head, and he passed away in a few hours without regaining consciousness. He bore a quiet and unassuming manner, and only a fortnight prior to his death he was home on leave. He had only returned to the trenches for two days when he was hit, and about an hour previously he was talking quite cheerfully to Pte. H.V.Scott- who by the way is at present in the town enjoying leave after sixteen months- of the happy times he had spent in this neighbourhood. The late Sergt-Major Webb joined up on the outbreak of war and had been at the front for nearly two and a half years. He had been twice wounded - at Hohenzollern Redoubt and the Battle of the Somme. He was a very popular N.C.O.and was liked by all with whom he came into contact.Prior to joining up he was employed at Braintree Manor Works. Much sympathy will be extended to the young widow and and parents." His Battalion were just NE of Monchy -le -Preux at the time, being heavily shelled. As his service record has not been found it is impossible to be exact as to where and when he was wounded. |
photo: Rodney Gibson
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