1st/7th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own). Regimental number 27680.
Formerly 31977, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
Early life:
James’s parents were George Addyman and Susannah Addyman née Wade who were married in the third quarter of 1888 at Fylde in Lancashire. In the 1891 census they were living at 14, High Street, Cross Canonby in Cumberland and George was aged 30 and with the Salvation Army. Susannah was the same age and they had two daughters, Phebe, aged one and Annie aged just one month. Boarding with them was Joseph H. Bowers, aged 19 and also with the Salvation Army and a domestic servant Sarah A. Tate aged 18.
They appear to have moved to Alderscholes Lane at Thornton in 1897.
James Robert was born in the second quarter of 1897, registered in Keighley.
The electoral roll shows his father George at 10, Thrush Street in Keighley in 1899.
In the 1901 census they had moved away from Keighley and were living at 59, Milford Street in Huddersfield. George was aged 40 and an Insurance agent. Susannah is also aged 40 and looking after the family and home. Their children were Phebe aged eleven, Lena aged eight, Wilfred aged six, James R. aged three and George junior aged two. (Lena might be Annie)
The electoral roll shows a George Addyman living at 7, Ruby Street in Keighley for the years 1904 and 1905. We presume this is the same man and his family is also here with him.
George died aged 45 on the 5th of April 1906 and his death was registered at Keighley in the second quarter of the year. He is buried on the 26th of April in the graveyard of St. John’s Church, Ingrow.
By 1911 the family has moved a short distance to 9, Pearl Street. This, along with Ruby Street is part of what’s locally know as the ‘Jewel Box’ with four street names after precious stones. They are Pearl, Emerald, Ruby and Diamond Street and are still in existence today.
Susannah is a widow aged 50, her children are Phoebe aged 21 and a worsted rover, Anne Gertrude aged 20 a dress goods weaver, Wilfred aged 16 a setter (spinning,) James Robert aged 13 (also a spinning setter,) George aged 12 is at school along with the youngest child Alfred aged nine. We think the school they attended was the Ingrow Council School (now Ingrow Primary School.)
War service:
There are no Army service records for James which means we have to piece together his service by other means. Prior to this he was employed by John Ramsden, a painter and decorator.
From the local newspaper and other sources, we believe he enlisted at Keighley in May 1916 with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He saw service in France and also at Malta, where he served for about 18 months. We also find he has a brother serving and another who was discharged (this information is from 1918). At some point he was posted or transferred to the 1/7th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment.
James was serving with them near Arras in October 1918 when he was killed in action on the 11th. The following war diary transcription gives details of the action in which he died.
WO-95/2795/1. War diary of the 1/7th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment:
Arras. Oct 1st:
Training – Inter Platoon Fire Power Contest – Rifles-Bomb & Lewis Gun.
Arras. Oct 2nd: Training
Arras. Oct 3rd: ditto
Arras. Oct 4th: ditto
Arras. Oct 5th: ditto
Arras. Oct 6th: ditto
Arras. Oct 7th: Battalion, moved by march & bus to 51B.V.21.a (CAGNICOURT AREA)
CAGNICOURT. Oct 8th: Battalion, arrived Cagnicourt area at 04.30. after rest the day was spent in providing accommodation.
CAGNICOURT. Oct 9th: Battalion, moved by march route to RAILLENCOURT area
RAILLENCOURT. Oct 10th: The Battalion moved by march route to MORENCHIES.
RAILLENCOURT. Oct 11th: Battalion moved into assembly position along road between T12. d. 5.5.42 (Sheet 51) Facing East, preparatory to attacks on enemy positions on high ground before AVESNES-du-SEC
IWUY AREA. Oct 11th: 09.00. Zero hour – Barrage opened – the Battalion moved forward to the attack.
See special diary attached.
Captured: About 300 prisoner – 1 field gun – 1 trench mortar battery (4 guns) – many heavy & light machine guns.
IWUY AREA. Oct 12th: The attack continued and line of railway S.W. of AVESNES-le-SEC captured.
AVESNES-le-SEC AREA. Oct 13th: A fairly quiet day.
AVESNES-le-SEC AREA. Oct 14th: Battalion relieved 4th Battalion & 7th Battalion Duke of Wellingtons Regiment in left Section of Right Subsector of Divisional front. Bath. H.Q. in VILLERS en CAUCHIES
Special Diary account of Action East of CAMBRAI on October 11th 1918:
Reference Map Sheet 51A.
02.30: Battalion in position of assembly along road between 2.12.d.5.5. and 2.9. facing East.
Front line Companies :-
A on the Right., B on the Left., C in Support., D in Reserve.
05.30: Enemy seen taking up positions about 200 yards in front on high ground.
07.15: Aerial activity – mostly our own.
07.30: Intermittent shelling of assembly position.
09.00: Zero hour. Barrage opened and the front line Companies went over in splendid order. Enemy M.Gs opened heavy fire from ridge in front.
09.05: Enemy barrage opened with H.E. gas shell – mostly 5.9 also whiz bang.
09.20: Front line Companies over crest of ridge in T.6.d. and U.1.c. Prisoners coming in fast – about 300. Many Machine guns captured heavy and light.
09.30: Battalion H.Q. moved to top of ridge.
09.45: Lieutenant Colonel W.R. PINWILL D.S.0. Commanding, hit by machine gun bullet in thigh and carried down.
09.50: Attack still progressing well. C Company report capture of 12 Field Guns.
10.05: Enemy counter attack launched from railway South of AVESNES le SEC accompanied by Tanks. Our troops forced back to crest in U.1.b. and 2.a.
10.45: Enemy tanks driven off by concentrated Lewis gun and rifle fire.
10.50: Enemy retiring.
11.00: Front line Battalions (7th and 6th W.Y.R.) reinforced by 5th Battalion W.Y.R. and line carried forward to O.32.c. and U.2.b. Further advance delayed by disorganization and lack of ammunition. Enemy trench mortar battery captured.
11.30. Further advance impossible owing to casualties. Line in 0.32.c. and U.2.b. consolidated.
12.00 to 19.00: Heavy enemy shelling and machine gun fire.
20.30: 5th Battalion take over the line. 6th and 7th Battalions withdraw to reorganize.
Estimated casualties 11 Officers and 400 other ranks.
The remainder of the day passed with little incident.
Oct. 12th: Advance continued. 5th W.Y.R. in front line, 6th W.Y.R. in Support, 7th W.Y.R. in Reserve.
09.50: Aircraft report enemy, retiring.
10:15: 5th W.Y.R. supported by 6th and 7th Battalions following up retreating enemy.
12.00: 5th W.Y.R. astride railway South of AVESNES-le-SEC and patrols out 1000 yards in front.
The remainder of the day passed without incident.
At some point during this action, James was killed in action at the age of 21. His body was not recovered afterwards along with 16 other men and they are all named on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial.
Keighley News, 9th November 1918, page 3:
Private J. R. Addyman, West Yorkshire Regiment, of 9, Pearl Street, Ingrow, was killed in action on October 11. He had seen service both in France and Malta, being stationed at the latter place for about eighteen months. Before enlistment in May, 1916, he was employed by Mr. John Ramsden, house decorator, Ingrow. A brother is serving in France, and another has been discharged.
Remembrance:
James has no known final resting place. Along with 16 other men of his battalion killed on the same date, he is named on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial in France.
He may be named as Robert Addyman on the Ingrow Council School roll of honour as there are four Addyman names, although it is stated that they all served and returned home. They are: Addyman; George Addyman; Robert Addyman; Wilfred Addyman.
Note: there is also a Percy Addyman named in the Keighley roll of honour book but we do not think he is closely related.
Post war:
Susannah was James’ next of kin and would have received his personal effects. She would also have received his medals which were the British War medal and Victory Medal plus a bronze war memorial plaque and memorial scroll inscribed with his name.
She did not receive anything from his Army pay account which was in debit to the tune of 1 shilling and 6 pence. Later she did receive a war gratuity payment which amounted to £13 10s.0d on the 3rd of April 1919. (The debit balance was never recovered by the Army.)
Susannah also applied for an Army Dependant’s Pension and there are two pension cards confirming she was living at 9, Pearl street, but we found no evidence of any payments being made to her.
In the 192 census she was aged 65, on household duties and living at 9, Pearl Street in Ingrow. Living here with her were Phoebe aged 32, a worsted drawer for J. Firth at Beech Mills, Ingrow; Annie Gertrude aged 26, a worsted weaver for Robert Clough & Sons at Grove Mills, Ingrow, Wilfred aged 26, and George aged 22 who were both loom fitters for George Hattersley at the North Brook Iron and Steel Works and Alfred aged 19 who was an iron turner for Haggas and Smith machine tool makers at Parson Street in Keighley.
In the 1939 Electoral roll Susannah is living at 9, Pearl Street and seems to have lived here until her death that year. She died aged 78 on the 5th of October 1939 and is buried with her husband George in the churchyard at St. John’s Church, Ingrow.
The inscription reads:
“In Loving Memory of George Addyman Died April 5th 1906 aged 45 years.
Also Susannah wife of the above Died Oct 5th 1939 aged 78 years.”
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
1891 England Census.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
Borough of Keighley 1914 – 1918 Great War roll of honour book at Keighley Library.
Ingrow War Memorial at St. John’s Church.
Ingrow Council School roll of honour.
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
1921 England Census
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Grave inscription at St. John’s Churchyard, Ingrow.
