Pte 17308 James Henry Dean

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 4TH KINGS 19th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 29th September 1918
• Commemorated at: Villers Hill Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: VI.B.9

James Henry Dean was born in the first quarter of 1895 in Liverpool and was the son of John Henry Dean and his wife Rosaria (nee Revara), they married in 1882 at St Michel's Church, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 29, Wellington Road, Toxteth Park, Lancashire. His father James is aged 29, born in Liverpool in 1872 is a shipwright, whilst his wife Rosaria is aged 38, born 1863, also in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. They have seven children at the time of the Census who were all born in Liverpool, Joseph aged 18, born 1883 and Campbell aged 16, born 1885 are both railway porters, Hannah aged 13 born 1888, Sarah aged 11, born 1890, Rosaria aged 8, born 1893, James Henry aged 6, born 1895 and Robert aged 1, born 1900.  

His father John Henry died in 1903.

James Henry was educated at the Liverpool Seaman's Orphanage. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 27 Yates Street Liverpool. His mother, Rosaria, is a widow aged 48 and has no occupation listed. She has five of her children living with her at the time of the Census, Campbell aged 26, is a dock labourer, Sarah Ellen aged 21 is listed as at home, Rosaria aged 18, is a drapery machinist, James Henry aged 16, is an apprentice boat-builder and Robert aged 11, is at school.    
 
James Henry enlisted on 3rd September 1914 at St George's Hall  in Liverpool joining the 19^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 17308. He gave his age as 19 years and 240 days and his occupation as a Clerk. He is described as being 5'7 and a half inches tall weighing 143lbs with a 39 inch chest a fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Methodist. 

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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 7^th November 1915.

His service records shows that he had two disciplinary offences:

22nd March 1915 whilst at Knowsley he was absent from tattoo for which he was confined to barracks for 4 days.

18th June 1915 whilst at Grantham he was absent from parade for which he was confined to barracks for 3 days.

He recieved his Good Conduct badge on 03rd September 1916.

On 11th May 1918 he was treated for the effect of Gas at the Canadian Casualty Clearing Station before being hospiatlised at Boulogne from 25th May. He was discharged from hospital on 15th June 1918. He was subsequently transferred to the 4th Battalion KLR on 27th June 1918.

He died of wounds on the 29th September 1918 aged 23 during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).

He now rests at Villers Hill British Cemetery, France. 

Villers-Guislain was occupied by Commonwealth forces from April 1917 until the German counter attacks (in the Battle of Cambrai) at the end of November 1917. It was lost on 30 November and retained by the Germans on 1 December in spite of the fierce attacks of the Guards Division and tanks. The village was finally abandoned by the Germans on 30 September 1918, after heavy fighting. Villers Hill British Cemetery was begun (as the Middlesex Cemetery, Gloucester Road) by the 33rd Division Burial Officer on 3 October 1918, and used until the middle of October. The original cemetery (now Plot I) contained 100 graves, of which 50 belonged to the 1st Middlesex and 35 to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Plot II and VII were added after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields and from the following German cemeteries:- GONNELIEU COMMUNAL CEMETERY GERMAN EXTENSION, in which eight soldiers from the United Kingdom, who fell on the 6th May 1917, were buried by their comrades. This extension was enlarged after the Armistice to contain 400 German graves. The Communal Cemetery contains one British grave which is permanently marked, and seven others now represented by special memorials at Villers Hill. HONNECOURT GERMAN CEMETERY, which was near the road from Honnecourt to Gonnelieu, and contained 20 German and three British graves. VILLERS-GUISLAIN GERMAN CEMETERY, which was on the south side of "Cemetery Road" (leading to Gouzeaucourt), and nearly opposite the Communal Cemetery. One British officer was buried here in April 1917 and 21 British soldiers in September and October 1918. The 600 German graves (some of which were brought in after the Armistice) were removed in 1922. The great majority of the graves in this cemetery are those of officers and men who died in April 1917, November-December 1917, March 1918 and September 1918. The cemetery now contains 732 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 350 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to seven casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate casualties buried in Gonnelieu Communal Cemetery and Honnecourt German Cemetery whose grave could not be found. The cemetery also contains 13 German burials. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

Liverpool Echo 07th October 1918: 

DEAN - Mrs Dean and family desire to thank all friends, also representatives of the Messrs. J. B. Johnson for floral tributes and kind sympathy shown to them in their great sorrow, 8 Wolverton Street, Anfield.

[J.B.Johnson were Slaters and Plasterers, 108 Crown St]

In a sworn declaration his mother advised that his surviving relatives were herself and his siblings: brothers Joseph John, Campbell and Roland and sisters Anna Victoria, Sarah Ellen and Rose. 

Soldiers effects and pension to his mother Rosaria.

James Henry is commemorated on the Liverpool Hall of Remembrance at Panel 7. 

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