Pte 300247 James Eckersley

• Age: 33
• From: Wigan
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Roye New Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: IV.D.6

James Eckersley was born in Wigan in the June quarter of 1884 Wigan, the son of Abraham Eckersley and his wife Ellen (nee Seddon). He was baptised on the 15th May 1884 at St John, Aspull. His parents married in the June quarter of 1865 at St David, Haigh. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 54, Ivy Brow, Aspull, Wigan. 
His father Abraham aged 58, is a coal hewer, born in Shackerley, Lancashire. His wife Ellen is aged 57 was born in Haigh, Lancashire and has no occupation listed. They have two children living with them who were both born in Aspull, William aged 19, born 1882 and James aged 16, both are employed as underground haulage hands in a colliery.  

James, a coal drawer, aged 21 of Wigan Rd, New Springs, married Elizabeth Heaps, aged 21 of Withington Lane, Aspull, on the 13th December 1905 at St David, Haigh.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 282 Wigan Road New Springs Near Wigan. 
His father Abraham aged 68, born 1843 is a labourer underground and his wife Ellen is aged 67 with no occupation listed. They have been married for forty five years and have had eight children of whom four had died. James now aged 26 and employed as a collier and his wife Elizabeth also aged 26 are living with his parents. They have been married for five years and have two children, Mary Ellen aged 4, born 1907 and Abraham aged 2 born 1909.  

James was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 300247 when he was killed in action on the 28^th March 1918, aged 33, during the German Spring Offensive. 

The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the chaotic events of the day

28^th March

At about 6am the enemy commenced to shell heavily the whole of the forward line and brought Trench Mortars and MACHINE Guns into action.

FOLIES was shelled and the area in the rear of the village as far back as LE QUESNEL.

Rations were received at dawn and parties were organised to carry them to the Companies on the right. Owing to the heavy fire, however, it was not possible to get them up.

Heavy fighting was in progress on the right from soon after dawn and at 8am the enemy was reported to be in possession of BOUCHOIR and progressing towards the BEETROOT FACTORY. About 10am  the 59^th Infy Brigade was notified that it was relieved by the French and the Battalions of that Brigade were at once withdrawn in the direction of LE QUESNEL.

At noon the enemy was bombarding the village and vicinity heavily and reports were received that he was in occupation of WARVILLERS on the left and ARVILLERS on the right.

The front line East of FOLIES continued to resist until about 2pm when the order was received from the 89^th Infy Brigade to the effect that the Battalions were relieved by the French and would withdraw at once to MEZIERES, where the men would be fed. Companies withdrew under some shelling and very heavy M.G. and rifle fire from the left , through K10 -K3 – North side LE QUESNEL to the main ROYE road and reorganised about D.29 c. The march from this point was conducted in good order despite the congested roads.

At MEZIERES it was decided to continue a rearward movement and the march was resumed via VILLERS-MOREUIL – MORISEL – ROUVREL, which village was reached about 7pm and the Battalion billeted. The men had marched 13 miles from the left position in good order and with practically no straggling. They were exhausted on arrival at ROUVREL, but in good heart.

Echelon ‘A’ of the Transport joined the Battalion at this village and the men were fed immediately on arrival. The night passed without incident.  

A local newspaper reported: 

Mrs Eckersley. wife of Lance-Corporal J Eckersley of Park House, Warrington Road, Ashton-In-Makerfield, has received official notification that her husband was killed in action in France on March 21st while taking part in the operations consequent on the latest German offensive. In communicating the sad intelligence, Captain Redhead (King's Liverpool Regiment) says --
"The Officers, N.C.O.'s, and men of his company unite in tendering you our deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement. He was one of my most promising N.C.O.'s, and always did his duty under most ardous circumstances".
The deceased Lance -Corporal was formerly a member of Lord Gerrard's Lancashire Hussars. He was married and leaves a widow and one child. One of his brothers was killed on April 20th, 1917 and another is still serving in France. [ Pte 16275 William Eckersley, 6/South Lancashire Regt., aged 20, buried in Baghdad]

James now rests at Roye New British Cemetery, France.

Roye was in German hands from 30 August 1914 until the French retook it on 17 March 1917. The town was recaptured by the Germans on 26 March 1918 but was evacuated by them on 26 August. The French First Army entered the town the following day. Roye Old British Cemetery was 1.6 kilometres south of the town. It was made in March 1918, by the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station but there was little time to mark the graves before the town was captured by the Germans, who extended this cemetery for the burial of their own dead. In 1920 the Commonwealth graves were removed to Roye New British Cemetery. Roye New British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields.

The cemetery contains 565 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 153 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials are erected to 13 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 117 casualties buried in Marchelepot British Cemetery and in three German cemeteries, whose graves could not be found. The cemetery also contains the graves of 43 Second World War airmen.

He is also remembered on the War Memorial at Holy Trinity, Downall Green, Ashton-in-Makerfield. 

Soldiers Effectsand pension to his widow Elizabeth Smart.

Elizabeth had remarried in 1921 to Herbert Smart at St Thomas, Ashton-in-Makerfield.

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