L/Cpl 24247 James Ernest Furnival

• Age: 23
• From: Widnes, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 8th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Serain Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: A.37

James Ernest was born in the fourth quarter of 1895 in Widnes the son of Ernest Merritt Furnival and his wife Elizabeth Mary (née Toole) who were married on the 23rd November 1892 at St Mary’s Church, Walton, Liverpool. He was baptised at St Paul's Church, Widnes on 13th February 1897, his father a clerk of 9 Palin Street. The date of birth shown on the baptismal records is 08th September 1896 which is at odds with the official record of his birth in the fourth quarter of 1895.  

On the 1891 Census at 301 Rimrose Road, Bootle, his father, Ernest, is boarding with the Toole family. He is aged 21, a clerk for the fire brigade, born in Cockermouth, Cumberland, whilst Elizabeth Mary is aged 26, born at Pembroke Dock, South Wales. They married the next year.  

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 6 Charlotte Terrace, Widnes. His father Ernest Merritt is shown as born in 1870 in Cockermouth and is a corporation clerk whilst his mother, Elizabeth Mary is shown as having been born in Pembroke Dock in 1866. His siblings are listed as Madeline E. b.1894 in Bootle and Constance Mary Faithful b. 1900 in Widnes.

By 1911 the family have moved to 3 Pit Lane, Widnes. James now 15 is shown as working as a grocer's assistant. His father, Ernest, is aged 41, a municipal clerk, his mother, Elizabeth, is aged 45. They advised that they had been married for 18 years, and have had 5 children. His three siblings are at school and shown as Constance Mary Faithful aged 11, Harold Harcourt born in 1903 and Eva Muriel born in 1906.   

He was educated at Farnworth school after which he worked as a clerk in the time office at Gossage`s Works in Widnes.

James enlisted in December 1914 in Liverpool, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment . 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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.

He arrived in France on 07th November 1915 with his Battalion.

He was serving with the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance-Corporal No 24247 when he was killed in action on the 08th October 1918, aged 23, during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).  

From the Battalion War Diary -

07th October 1918

The battalion was billeted at TEMPLEUX-LA-FOSSE and moved forward to the HINDENBURG Line in the neighbourhood of BONY, taking up previously selected position by 1545 hours.  […]  Final orders for the attack on the 8th were issued, rations were issued and everything prepared, overcoats being dumped and the necessary tools being issued.  

8th October 1918

The battalion arrived in the Assembly position in B.8.d. at 0600 hours. […]. Intermittent shelling in BELLE VUE FARM and BEAUREVOIR MILL.  Manchesters and Connaughts not in position.  At 0652 the Manchesters and Connaughts moved forward, this battalion, being in Divisional Reserve, following.  A good number of prisoners commenced to come in, the situation being good, and the Manchesters and Connaughts got into position without much difficulty.

At 1030 word was received from the Manchesters that LES FOLIES FARM was captured at 0830, and that they were advancing on to final objective, with very little opposition.

At 1235 hours our “D” Company was ordered to report to the Connaught Rangers, as reserve in case of necessity.  At 1242 “A”, “B”, and “C” Coys were ordered forward to  take up positions between PETIT FOLIES and LES FOLIES FARM in time to arrive at 1400 […], the battalion going to take over the line from the Connaughts.  At 1730 “D” Company moved forward to occupy the mill at SERAIN and help in clearing up the Village, the eastern edge of which was occupied by the Bosche, “B” Company moving up to take over part of the line from the Connaughts. 

The War Diary makes no mention of casualties for this day. 

In a letter to his parents, two of his pals, Lance-Corporal Bage and Private Johnson write:

 “There is probably one little matter which may be consoling to you , and that is he passed away without suffering. I can assure you we mourn his loss considerably, as he proved a true friend at all times. Jim is buried in a small British cemetery. We are at the present time in close proximity to the grave and are doing everything in our power to have a suitable cross erected”.

James now rests at Serain Communal Cemetery Extension, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“AND THE PRIZE HE SOUGHT AND WON WAS THE CROWN FOR DUTY DONE”

Serain was captured by the 66th (East Lancashire) Division on the 8th October 1918.

The Communal Cemetery was extended by the Germans on the North-West side, and in October 1918, the present British Extension was made on the North-West side of the German. After the Armistice the German Extension was removed; 264 German, seven Russian graves and one American were taken to other cemeteries; and 32 British graves (from the German Extension and other German cemeteries) were brought into the British Extension.

There are now over 100, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly 20 are unidentified.

The cemetery covers an area of 630 square metres and is enclosed by a stone rubble wall.

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