| Date of birth: | 1887 |
| Place of birth: | Bournemouth |
| Regiment: | Lincolnshire |
| Battalion: | 7th |
| Rank / Service No: | Private, 42006 |
| Died: | 12th October 1917, aged 29 years |
| Commemorated: | Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium |
Wilfred was the oldest of 3 siblings born to George and Emily James (nee Ricketts), who married in Bournemouth in 1885.
George was born in Tarrant Hinton in 1856 and he died in Bournemouth in 1899.
Emily was born in Bere Regis in 1859 and she passed away in Bournemouth in 1905.
Both of Wilfred’s sisters were living with the Oxford family (presumably uncle or aunt) at 111 Poole Road, Westbourne at the 1911 Census.
Siblings
Wilfred George
Amy Frances b. 8 December 1889 Bournemouth d. 1972 Bournemouth
Daisy Gwendoline b. 1893 Bournemouth d. 1915 Bournemouth
Wilfred, a stationer’s assistant, was boarding with a Norman Wellington (and other boarders) at 12 High Street, Southampton at the 1911 Census.
Wilfred married Marjorie Gordon Fordyce in Southampton in 1913. The couple lived at 87 Wilton Road, Shirley.
They had one daughter……
Marjory Frances b. 12 July 1915 Hammersmith d. 1979 Southampton Married Cecil E. Holman in Southampton in 1947.
Marjorie had been born in Bridgwater on 29 May 1888 and she passed away in Southampton in 1942.
Wilfred enlisted in Whitehall, presumably around the time his daughter was born, although the battalion (part of the 51st Brigade in the 17th (Northern) Division) was concentrated near Winchester in May 1915.
The division proceeded to France in July 1915, concentrating near St Omer. In early 1916, they moved to front-line trenches south of Ypres.
The battalion was involved in the Battle of Albert and helped capture Fricourt later the same year.
In 1917, the division moved to Arras and saw action in the First and Second Battles of the Scarpe and the capture of Rouex.
In late summer, they move to Flanders and fought in both battles of Passchendaele. It would have been during these intense battles that Wilfred would have met his end.
| Researcher: | Mark Heritage |
| Published: | 3rd October 2016 |
| Updated: |
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