Sgt 23829 James Albert Sherry

• Age: 28
• From: Garston, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 10th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Abbeville Cc
  Panel Ref: IV.D.9

JAMES ALBERT SHERRY – Sgt – 23829 20th Kings Liverpool - died 10/7/1916

James Albert was was born in 1888, the son of James Sherry and his wife Mary (nee Hall) who were married on 13th October 1887 at Walton on the Hill. He was baptised on 18th November 1888 at St Michael’s Church, Garston - Residence 5 Granville Close. 

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at 13 Vandyke Street, Toxteth Park. His father James is a 29 year old book keeper born in Woolton, his mother Mary is aged 27 and was born in Liverpool. They have two children in the household; James A. 2 born in Garston, and Eleanor Mary 7 months also born in Garston.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He was serving as Serjeant 23829 when he died of wounds on 10th July 1916, aged 28.

He now rests at Abbeville Communal Cemetery at IV.D.9 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY" 

For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. The extension was begun in September 1916. During the early part of the Second World War, Abbeville was a major operational aerodrome, but the town fell to the Germans at the end of May 1940. On 4 June, an attempt was made by the 51st Division, in conjunction with the French, to break the German bridgehead, but without success. Towards the end of 1943, eight large ski shaped buildings appeared near Abbeville. These proved to be storage units for flying bomb components an they were heavily bombed by Commonwealth air forces. Abbeville was retaken on 4 September 1944 by Canadian and Polish units. Abbeville Communal Cemetery contains 774 Commonwealth burials of First World War and 30 from the Second. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo of 18/07/1916:

CRICKET FOR AIGBURTH

Sergeant J. Albert Sherry died from wounds in France. He was for many years on the office staff of Messrs. P.Cain and Sons, and only just prior  to the war accepted a responsible position with Messrs. J.Sykes and Sons. He was well known in Sefton Park and district as a  keen sportsman, being a prominent playing member the Aigburth Cricket Club. He was also well-known in musical circles, having been a member of the choir of St. Saviour's, Abercromby-square, for a number of years. 

James Albert’s Memoriam was reported in the Liverpool Echo 10/7/1917 and the Liverpool Daily Post 11//7/1917

SHERRY - In sad but loving memory of our brother Sgt. James Albert Sherry – Kings Liverpool Regiment 4th Pals who died at Abbeville on July 10th 1916 from wounds received in action. Sadly missed Nell and Russell (in France)

James Albert Sherry in commemorated on the following Memorials:

Liverpool YMCA

St Agnes and St Pancras C.of E., Toxteth.

His mother, Mary, died in the September quarter of 1919, aged 56.

After his wife's death James lived with his married daughter Eleanor Mary Carter at 16 Bellairs Rd, Clubmoor until 1923.