James Daniel's Story.
James’s name came up through the Weaverham search for Service Docuuments but there are no lads named Beswick on Weaverham St. Marys “Roll of Honour”. James was with the Cheshires, Reg’t. No. 13920, born in Weaverham and living in Weaverham. James was 20yrs 2m when he enlisted. He was single and his work was a Labourer. (Cheshirebmd record the birth of James D. Beswick in 1894, W/ham.) James was attested 31st Aug, 1914 in Northwich. His medical was at Hartford where he was declared “fit” he was 5ft 6ins tall, weight 123lb, girth 34in, complexion fresh with eyes and hair brown. He was posted with the 12th Service Bn. Cheshires, Pte., on the 5th Sept. 1914; Joined the Exp. Force 6th Sept 1915; Rejoined from the Exp. Force 11th Oct. 1916; Posting 18th Dec. 1916; 3rd Bn. Exp. Force, France 7th Feb. 1917; Postings 10th Cheshire Reg’t. 24th Feb. 1917;
James travel log is as follows;
Home 31/8/14 - 5/9/15 1yr 6d
Exp. Force 6/9/15 - 10/10/16 1yr 36d
Rejoin. 11/10/16 - 6/2/17 119d
Exp. Force France 7/2/17 - 15/4/17 68d
Total of 2yr 229days
James’s “Casualty Form – Active Service” Form B103, records James embarking for France from Folkestone 6/9/15. Then embarked for M.E.F., (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) Marseilles 28/10/15 and onto Salonika. There is referrence to being in the Southern General Hospital Edgbaston Birmingham 4th Nov. 1916. This may relate to his return from the M.E.F. which appears to have been somewhere between 30/9/16 & 14/10/16.
Cheshirebmd record a Mary Ann Bebbington marrying Arthur Beswick in 1893 at St. Mary’s W/ham, they had two children James and Fred. The 1911 census has the family living at Copy Hold, Weaverham. James declared he was born in Weaverham so he was a Weaverham lad. Father, Arthur, died later that year, 1911, Mother, Mary, remarried Benjamin Groves in 1913 at Bucklow, Trafford, part of which was to move and the Army records show Mary and Fred, son, living at 90 Lydyett Lane, Barnton. (Cheshirebmd records a Fred [not Frederick] Beswick birth in W/ham in 1897.)
N.A.M.C. - confirm James’s service details, Cheshire Reg’t. No 13920, awarded the three medals, British, Victory and 15 Star. Theatre of War was France (and Salonika, M.E.F.) and Date of Entry 6th Sept 1915. The card also stated K.I.A. 20/4/17.
C.W.G.C. remember James at RUE-PETILLON MILITARY CEMETERY FLEURBAIX. He died on the 20th April 1917 he was aged 23. James was with the 10th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, Pte. No 13920. Son of Mrs M. A. Groves (formerly Beswick) of Lydyett Lane, Barnton.
James is remembered on the WW1 Memorial at Christ Church, Barnton. Pam Owen has confirmed James is remembered on this memorial and has kindly allowed me access to view the Memorial, Tuesday 6th April 2021. (Could those responsible for the Weaverham & Barnton memorials have had discussions on inclusion of lads like James on the “Fallen” memorials?)
Guardian Article 4th May 1917 P5/C1&C2; PRIVATE J. E. BESWICK
(The article states J.E. and his name James Edward, the medal card and service documents state James D. or James Daniel.)
Private James Edward Beswick, of the Cheshire Regiment, whose home is at 90 Lydyett Lane, Barnton, has been killed. He was a son of Mrs Groves and stepson of Mr. Benjamin Groves, and his mother learned on Saturday morning from the Chaplin of the regiment (the Rev. G. M. Evans) that he was reported missing after an engagement on the evening of Sunday, April 15th and was believed to have been taken prisoner. This was followed by an official notification from the War Office that Private Beswick had been killed.
Private Beswick was 22 years of age, and was born at Weaverham. He attended Weaverham National School and at the age of 14 was employed on the farm of Mr. Darlington. Afterwards he went to work for Mr. W. Gerrard, at Weaverham wood, and later he attained employment on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway at Bury. Just before the war he returned home and was working for Mr. Bebbington farmer, of Stanthorne. He enlisted in August, 1914, and after a few months training went to the front. He was afterwards transferred to another theatre of war, and whilst there he contracted malaria fever and dysentery, He was in hospital for some time and from there was brought to England. After a brief furlough at home during Christmas he reported to the headquarters of his regiment early in the New Year and went back on active service. Private Beswick was interested in music, and as an amateur violinist he often used to play at school concerts. He was a pupil of Mr. Gorst of the Northwich School of Music. He was related to Private Powell, a Weaverham soldier, whose death was announced in last Friday’s Guardian.
Research Bob Heaton