Pte 50217 James Jester Townsend

• Age: 36
• From: Cold Higham,Northants
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

James Jester Townsend was born in 1883 in Cold Higham, Northants, son of William Thomas and Ellen Townsend (nee Taylor) who were married in September 1882 in Towcester, Northants. He was baptised on the 6th May 1883 in Cold Higham. He was the husband of Eliza Lucy Townsend of Gate Helmsley, York.

His father's first marriage was to Rosanna Turland on the 18th Sept 1865 in Cold Higham, and they had children Thomas William, Caroline Emily, Herbert Paul, George Pacey, Helen Marian, and Mayo. Rosanna died in March 1881 aged 33.

On the 1891 census the family are living in the village of Cold Higham.

Father William is aged 46, an agricultural labourer was born in Cold Higham, and his wife Ellen is aged 41 born in .Shutford, Oxford. They have seven children all born in Cold Higham. The eldest son Herbert is aged 19 and employed as a shoe finisher as is George aged 17, Ellen 14, Mayo 12 a scholar, James 6 a scholar, Frank  aged 2 and Rosanna born 1891.

On the 1901 census the family are still living in the village of Cold Higham.

Father William is aged 56, a rough carpenter, and his wife Helen(sic) is 50 and has no occupation listed. They have three children living at the address, James aged 17 is a domestic gardener, Frank aged 12 and Rosanna aged 9.

James married Eliza Lucy Line in December 1905 in Towcester.

On the 1911 census the family are living in Great Glen, near Leicester.

James Jester is now aged 27, and still employed as a domestic gardener, his wife Eliza Lucy is aged 27 and was born in Haddon, Northants.

They have 2 sons, Stanley Victor in 1913 who sadly died in infancy, and Ronald William in 1916.

He enlisted in Richmond, Yorkshire and was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50217 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 36 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day gives an insight into the events of the day. 

29 April 1918 

A 3 a.m. the Enemy opened up a very heavy Bombardment of High explosive and Gas shells on our covering Artillery and at 6 a.m.. launched a powerful attack , smothering our outpost line, but failing to pierce the Battalion front, being repulsed with heavy loss. At 8 a.m. the Enemy again attacked but was repulsed. Many Casualties were caused to him during the day, as numbers of the enemy were picked off as they endeavoured to get back to their own lines. 

Casualties were Capt E B Hough Killed, 2nd Lt W. Munro Killed and 12 Other Ranks Killed, 28 Wounded and 13 Other Ranks missing" 

James has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

He is also remembered at Gate Helmsley, North Yorkshire.

Reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List 18th June 1918

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - Townsend 50217 J.J. (Gate Helmsley);

Soldiers Effects and Pension to Eliza Lucy Townsend and child Ronald William.

His father died in December 1920 aged 77.

His mother Ellen b.1852 appears on 1921 census in Far Cotton, Hardingstone with her married daughter Rosanna Carter and family.

His wife Eliza Lucy died in December 1962 aged 80

We currently have no further information on James Jester Townsend, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

His step-brother, Gnr 172843 Mayo Townsend RGA, died of wounds on the 28th March 1918.

We currently have no further information on James Jester Townsend, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.