James's Story.
James Ballantine Devoy was born on 18th August 1896 at 23 Mersey Street, Poulton cum Seacombe in Wallasey, Cheshire (now Wirral).
James was the 7th of 10 children, and the 3rd son of John Hugh Devoy b. 1857 Liverpool (a Dock Board labourer) and Elizabeth Jones b. Wales. His father died 1/5/1924 whilst living at 107 Rice Lane, Wallasey. His older sister, Elizabeth Alice Devoy b. 1884 was my great grandmother.
When James was born the following siblings were at home: John Hugh Devoy junior, 16 years; Elizabeth Alice, 12 years; Margaret, 9 years; Alexander Ballantine, 7 years; Caroline, 5 years; Mabel, 2 years.
In 1898, his sister, Evelyn was born. In 1903, Gladys was born.
In 1901, the family lived in Bosnia Street, Seacombe. John Hugh senior was then a Hydraulic Machine worker, as was his son, John Hugh junior.
In 1911, the family lived at 10 Cross Street, Seacombe. James was 14 years old and had left school (shown as unemployed on census). Also, in the house was his brother, Alexander, 21 years, who was employed as a Quartermaster and who later died on the SS Barrister which was torpedoed off Ireland in 1918. There was also a boarder by the name of James Kinsella, 21 years, also a Quartermaster, born in Ireland.
James’s grandfather was James John Devoy b.1826 in Scotland, his grandmother was Elizabeth Powis, b.1833 in Wales. The Devoy’s originated from Ireland. There is some suggestion that the family were French Huguenots but that is yet to be substantiated.
James joined the 11th Battalion King’s Liverpool Regiment in 1914. He probably attested on 31st August 1914 and was posted to the 11th Battalion on 2nd September 1914. On the 11th January 1915 the 11th was converted from an infantry battalion to a Pioneer Battalion. The battalion had a considerable number of miners from Wigan in the ranks.
He embarked for France on the 19th May 1915 (when he was 18 years and 9 months).
11th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers) Kings Liverpool Regiment
The original battalion formed as an infantry battalion at Seaforth, Liverpool on 23 August 1914 as part of K1 and attached as Army Troops to 14th (Light) Division.
The battalion landed in France via Folkestone on 20 May 1915.
James spent the next three and half years in northern France and Belgium carrying out all the duties required of him as a soldier of the Pioneer Battalion – a hazardous occupation usually carried out under enemy fire. There would be trench building and repairing, road repairs, and many of the jobs required to maintain the allied war zone and approaches. They would also be expected to recover the dead and bury them. Often, the Pioneeers would follow the advancing troops to establish strong points – all carried out whilst unarmed. Nevertheless, the Pioneers were still regarded as soldiers and James was called upon on a number of occasions to go into the line or to stand to.
27 April 1918: the battalion was reduced to a training cadre after substantial losses during German Spring Offensive and was later absorbed into 15th Bn, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. It was during this offensive that the Pioneers were issued with arms and helped to slow down and stop the German advance.
2/6th Kings Liverpool Rifle Battalion
James returned to England on 17 June and was promoted to Corporal. He was then posted to the 2/6th Kings Liverpool Rifle Battalion and arrived in France on the 27th June 1918. The 2/6th KLR was with the 57th Southwest Lancashire Division, 171st Brigade. It had been formed on the 10th September 1914. On 14 February 1917 the 2/6th King's landed at Boulogne. It then went into the line on 25 February and served on the Western Front for the remainder of the war.
On the 1st September 1918 the 2/6th K.L.R., in conjunction with two companies of 2/7th K.L.R. and the 52nd Division, were to attack in the evening and capture Riencourt Les Cagnicourt, and consolidate a line 500 yards east of the village near to the Hendecourt-Bullecourt Road.
The orders were that the Hendecourt--Bullecourt road was not to be crossed till 5.15 p.m. Just at this moment, as the companies were moving to cross this road, an enemy aeroplane came over, flying very low, and immediately afterwards the enemy artillery opened out on the trench the men were crouching in and the road with 5·9's and gas shells, causing many casualties to two Companies, including many N.C.Os. The aeroplane also fired several belts of ammunition at the men as they lined up.
One of the Companies encountered little opposition till they approached the west edge of the village, when their own barrage, unfortunately, came back 200 yards, causing considerable casualties.
Eventually, after fierce fighting, the objective was reached and Riencourt was in allied hands. The total prisoners captured that day amounted to 170, with 13 machine guns and a trench mortar. As against this, 1 officer was killed and 3 wounded, also 19 men killed (including James Devoy) and 95 wounded.
Source: THE HISTORY of the 2/6th (Rifle) Battalion "The King's" (Liverpool Regiment)
1914-1919 BY CAPT. C. E. WURTZBURG, M.C. Adjutant, Nov. 1916-Nov. 1918
Researched and written by Barry Huston