BORN: 23 Dec 1897, Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales.
UNIT: Royal Gloucestershire Hussarys (Gloucestershire Yeomanry).
DIED: from his wounds 27 Apr 1917, Gaza, Palestine.
BURIED: Gaza War Cemetery. Location XX. D. 12.
LOCAL CONNECTIONS: Penhow Castle Farm.
Early Life
Trevor William JAMES was born on 23 Dec 1897 in Trevethin, Monmouthshire the first-born son of William and Elizabeth Ann ‘Annie’ JAMES. Trevor was baptised in Trevethin parish church on 23 Jan 1898. His parents lived in Commercial Road, Pontypool, where his father William was a grocer. William was from Clytha, Monmouthshire. He married Elizabeth Annie STEAD in Penhow parish church, Monmouthshire on 25 Apr 1894. She was farmer’s daughter who lived in Penhow but was born in Mitchel Troy, Monmouthshire.
By the 1901 census, the family had moved to Roath, Cardiff, Glamorgan where his father worked as a Grocer’s Foreman. Trevor, aged 3, now had a 1-year-old sister Evelyn Winifred. The family stayed in Roath but moved to Albany Road and Trevor started school at Roath Park Primary on 02 Jun 1904. He moved to Pike Council School in 1906 and then to Albany Road School in 1907. By then the family had moved to Strathnairn Street. He progressed to Howard Gardens Municipal Secondary School for boys in 1909. The family still lived in Strathnairn Street, and his father worked as a Milk Vendor.
By the 1911 census, Trevor (aged 13) had moved with his family to Amesbury Road. He now had a younger brother Aubrey Tom JAMES (aged 9). His parents also had a fourth child who had not survived. His father continued to work as a Dairyman.
Trevor’s maternal grandfather, Samuel STEAD, had died at Penhow Castle Farm, Penhow in 1905. It is believed that Trevor moved to Penhow to help his grandmother on the farm.
Trevor and WW1
Trevor’s service record appears to be amongst the many that are missing or were burned in the Blitz during WW2. So do not know precisely when he enlisted. However, calculations based on his War Gratuity indicate that he enlisted in the month from 28 Sep 1916. This is consistent with medal records that show that he had not served in a theatre of war by Dec 1915. This is not surprising as he did not turn 18 until 23 Dec 1915.
Trevor joined the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (Gloucestershire Yeomanry) initially as cavalryman Trooper 3184 and then Trooper 235730. He may have initially joined C Squadron which was based in Newport. However, C Squadron was broken up on mobilisation and dispersed amongst the 3 remaining squadrons.
The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (RGH) was formed from volunteer cavalry troops in 1795 during the Napoleonic Wars. By 1908 it had been incorporated into the new Territorial Force as Yeomanry to defend Britain during wartime. So, at the start of WW1, the regiment shared the responsibility for home defence in England. However, in April 1915, they were sent to via Egypt to Galipoli where they fought as infantry rather than cavalry.
After heavy losses at Gallipoli in 1915 the regiment returned to Egypt in a cavalry role. It was back at full strength (370 men) by Jan 1916. Then, in April 1916, the RGH lost 98 men in the Battle of Katia, fought east of the Suez Canal. The Ottoman attack had surprised the British cavalry, and 64 men were taken prisoner when the British surrendered.
Second Battle of Gaza
By Jan 1917 the British were ready to advance north across the Sinai desert to Palestine. The town of Gaza was the first key objective on the route to Jerusalem. Preventing this advance were the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire’s defensive positions along the Gaza-Beersheba line . The line ran from the coastal city of Gaza to Beersheba in the east. The Turkish trenches and redoubts were complemented by natural defences (including tall cactus hedges) and good water supplies.
Trevor’s regiment had already been in action on 09 January 1917 in the successful Battle of Rafa, which they fought dismounted. The success at Rafa encouraged the British to launch an attack on Gaza. Trevor’s regiment fought in this failed attack on Gaza in March 1917 when the British snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. A month later Trevor fought at the equally doomed Second Battle of Gaza. It seems more than likely that this is when Trevor was fatally wounded.
The regimental war diaries are badly faded but here is what we can make out about Trevor’s last days.
Trevor's final days
On 1st Apr 1917 he was stationed at Beir-El-Balah, on the Mediterranean Coast south of Gaza. In early April the regiment completed patrol missions and took turns to be stationed at In Seirat outpost to the east and then returning to camp. They came under shell fire and also from hostile aircraft. One man was wounded on 14th April when an aeroplane dropped 3 bombs on their camp. Could this be Trevor?
Then, on 16th April the RGH moved into readiness for the Second Battle of Gaza. The cavalry’s objective was to ‘distract’ the Ottoman armies to the east so that they were unable to move to reinforce Gaza from Beersheba. Trevor and his comrades marched out of Beir-el-Belah at 1700 to In Seirat. The 20 officers, 333 other ranks and 400 horses and mules rested there until dusk. Then they continued their march to Tel-El-Jemmi where they bivouacked.
At midnight they received orders to move immediately along the Wadi-Esh-Sharia to clear out the enemy from Khirbet-Um-Rijl. However, when got to El Mendur they were told the enemy had retired. So the brigade then took up outpost positions when they were heavily shelled, but without loss. They were relieved that evening (17th Apr) and moved into reserve.
On 19th Apr they returned to the fighting, on the right flank of the attack. With little cover they came under heavy fire, especially from Sausage Hill, but still managed to advance. By midday they had swung to the left and the reserve squadron was called up to protect their right flank. The RHG received orders not to progress further until Sausage Hill was cleared. However, other units from the brigade were unable to take the now reinforced Ottoman positions on the ridge. Trevor’s commander called for artillery support, but the guns were being bombed by enemy aeroplanes and none came. The Ottoman Turks counter attacked at 13:45 but the British held their ground. However, 30 mins later, more enemy reinforcements arrived, and they pressed forward again. The Australians to the right and left of Trevor’s regiment were in retreat and B Squadron of the RGH were sent to provide cover. With the aid of reinforcements the Ottoman advance was held until about 16:15. Then at 16:45 a general withdrawal was ordered for 18:50. However, at 18:50 the soldiers were ordered to stay in position until 19:45 because the British Empire forces were unable to evacuate their wounded. By 20:30 the brigade had been entirely withdrawn to El Munkeilah. They then retraced their steps, stopping at Tel-El-Jemmi to water the horses. They arrived at El Mendur at 02:15 on 20th Apr.
During the battle on the 19th they fired 14,000 rounds of small arms ammunition and ‘only 1 horse was injured’. One RHG soldier was killed and 12 were wounded: presumably, one of these was Trevor.
[Note: the excellent profile of Trevor published by Langstone Community Council also gives an account of the battle, but focuses on Light Cavalry, to which I believe Trevor did not belong.]
Death and Burial - 'Sleep on Beloved'
His death
CWGC records state that Trevor died on 20th April, but the regimental war diary says that Trevor died of his wounds on 27 Apr 1917. He was just 19 years old.
His burial
Trevor is buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Palestine, at Grave Location XX. D. 12. At his families request, the grave includes the inscription ‘Sleep on Beloved’. Gaza was not captured until November 1917, so it seems likely that his body was moved there after this. However, there no graves’ consolidation record was found to confirm this.
Trevor is also commemorated in Penhow Church on a WW1 battlefield cross with a brass plaque. He is further commemorated on the nearby War Memorial at Langstone and in the profile produced by Langstone Community Council. His name is listed on the RGH Memorial in the grounds of Gloucester Cathedral. Like others on the Magor Memorial, he is also commemorated by the Newport Cenotaph. There are no names on the monument itself, but Private 235730 Trevor William James’s name appears on the listing.
Medals and Pension
Trevor was awarded both the British War, and Victory medals. However, they were returned to the issuing office due to a problem with delivery. Perhaps this was because his parents had moved. His mother applied again for them on 23 Jun 1924 when she lived at 86 Angus Road, Cardiff.
His mother Elizabeth Ann was Trevor’s sole legatee. She received £2 0s 0d on the 22 Aug 1917, £0 10s 0d on 4 Sep 1917, and £5 19s 9d on 05 Oct 1917. She was paid a War Gratuity of £6 10s 0d on 23 Oct 1920.
What happened to his family?
Parents
Trevor’s parents moved to 85 Angus Street, Roath, by the 1921 census where William continued to work as a Dairyman.23 William died in 1927 and was buried in Cardiff Cemetery. I do not yet know what happened to his mother. She was not with the children in 1939. Nor have I found a remarriage for her in Cardiff between 1924-44. The research required to differentiate her from others of the same name is beyond the scope of this project.
Siblings
Aubrey Tom Ewart JAMES: He married Audrey HAWKINS in 1929 in Cardiff and moved to Swansea where he worked as an insurance company manager. He was also a Special Constable during WW2. They raised a family in Swansea. He died in St. David’s Nursing Home, Swansea on 29 May 1988.
Evelyn Winifred JAMES: Evelyn worked as a shorthand typist for a shipping company in Cardiff. She married William GRIFFITHS in Cardiff in 1925. The stayed in Cardiff and raised a family. William worked as a senior clerk for a colliery proprietor. In 1947 she remarried in Caerleon Registration District to Clifford MUNN. She died in the Merthyr Tydfil Registration District in 1978.
Contact me if you want more detail about the sources used or any help finding your ancestors’ stories, military or otherwise.
Links
Langstone CC Profile for Trevor: download a pdf here
Shaun Mcguire’s website: http://www.shaunmcguire.co.uk/
