Royal Engineers, 75th Field Company, Service no. 480623
Story
Jim enlisted on 9th December 1915, aged 19. His unit card lists his profession as “carpenter”, and states that he had “fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair”. He joined 75th Field Company as a sapper, presumably using his carpentry skills in the many construction jobs required throughout the war. 75th Field Company were present on the Western Front from August 1915 until the end of hostilities, and Jim would have been present at many of the major battles of the war, including fighting on The Somme and at Ypres.
Jim survived the war and was discharged in 1919, receiving a War Grant of £18-00. He married Janet in Great Ouseburn. They settled at Apple Orchard, Skelton near Saltburn-by-the-Sea, where they ran a market garden and raised a family of 5 children. They retired to Great Ouseburn, where Jim built a house. He died in 1979 at the age of 84.
He never spoke about the war, but kept a Mauser that he took from a German soldier, hidden in the wardrobe.
Kippax Connections
Jim is the Grandfather of Jane Freeman and Heidi Smith, and Great Grandfather to George, Esther, Harry and Toby, all of whom live in Kippax.
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