It occurred to me that some of you may like to know what became of James after his safe return to the UK in the last weeks of December 1918. Here I attempt to outline this, but some dates of events I am still unsure about at this time.
James rejoined his Battalion, and became a reserve until mid 1919. James and Doris were married during the first three months of 1920. They had two children, John, my father, and Mary, my Aunt.
James became a butcher, and along with Doris, ran a successful business until the early 1950's. James then took a job in a Calico Printing Company, and was also a Special Constable in the local Police force for 16 years, from which he retired in 1958. He then became a "lollypop man", helping school children to cross the road safely, a job which I know he really enjoyed, but he had to retire from this in June of 1967 because the Constabulary rules would not allow anyone over the age of seventy to continue in employment, something that would not be tolerated in the 21st century!
Sadly, Doris died in 1968 from a stroke, and I remember well how devastated he was at the time. However, he carried on regardless, and was at my wedding to Lynda in April 1972. In the following two years we took him on many outings, I remember one time when when we took him for Kentucky Fried Chicken after a day out at Knowsley Safari Park, he was very impressed, and whilst he really enjoyed it, all he could say was "this is new to me" the memory still makes me smile.
My Grandpa died in 1974, two years before our firstborn son Andrew arrived, (he will be 38 this year, good grief!!)
James rejoined his Battalion, and became a reserve until mid 1919. James and Doris were married during the first three months of 1920. They had two children, John, my father, and Mary, my Aunt.
James became a butcher, and along with Doris, ran a successful business until the early 1950's. James then took a job in a Calico Printing Company, and was also a Special Constable in the local Police force for 16 years, from which he retired in 1958. He then became a "lollypop man", helping school children to cross the road safely, a job which I know he really enjoyed, but he had to retire from this in June of 1967 because the Constabulary rules would not allow anyone over the age of seventy to continue in employment, something that would not be tolerated in the 21st century!
Sadly, Doris died in 1968 from a stroke, and I remember well how devastated he was at the time. However, he carried on regardless, and was at my wedding to Lynda in April 1972. In the following two years we took him on many outings, I remember one time when when we took him for Kentucky Fried Chicken after a day out at Knowsley Safari Park, he was very impressed, and whilst he really enjoyed it, all he could say was "this is new to me" the memory still makes me smile.
My Grandpa died in 1974, two years before our firstborn son Andrew arrived, (he will be 38 this year, good grief!!)