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Lancashire Fusiliers,
Killed in Action,
10th May 1917
Age 19
Buried Brown's Road Military Cemetery Festubert.
James Taylor Gregson was born in Baxenden on 17 November 1897. He was the son of Thomas and Susan Alice Gregson, of Spring Terrace, and was baptised at St. John’s, Church, Stonefold on 2 January 1898. In 1901 James was living at 679, Blackburn Road, Acre with his parents and grandparents, James and Jane Nuttall. At one time he worked on a poultry farm at Houghton, but prior to the war he worked as a labourer at Messrs Worsley’s Industrial Mill, Baxenden. He enlisted in the 2/7 Lancashire Fusiliers on 30 August 1916, and went to France in February 1917. He was killed in action near Givenchy, France, on 10 May 1917. At the time of his death the family lived at 677, Manchester Road, Rising Bridge. He was 19 years of age and unmarried.
"The 2nd/7th Battalion went into the trenches at Givenchy near Bethune, on 14 March. From then on, and during April and May, small parties crossed No Man's Land and carried out raids on the German trenches to bomb dug-outs, kill Germans and capture prisoners. The Germans replied in kind and often raiders from both sides were forced to retire under heavy machine gun and rifle fire.
The Battalion spent the period from 6 May to 12 May on a tour of the trenches and during this time Pte. Gregson was killed whilst on a raid".
From - Bill Turner’s Book.
Newspaper Report:
Mr. Thomas Gregson of 677 Manchester Road, Rising Bridge, has received word that his son, Private James Taylor Gregson aged 19, has been killed in action.
The deceased, who joined up on August 30th, 1916, had worked as a labourer at Industrial Mill.
Newspaper Memorials:
In loving memory of our dear and only Son, Private James Taylor Gregson, Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in France, May 10th 1917, and was interred at Brown Road British Cemetery, Festubert.
"The fairest flowers are first to fall,
A loving son, so true and brave;
Sweet is his memory dear to our hearts,
Our love for him never shall part."
From Father and Mother, 677 Rising Bridge.
"One year has passed, and hearts still sore,
As time flies on we miss him more;
His loving smile, his welcome face,
No one can fill the vacant place.
We do not forget him, nor do we intend,
We think of him daily, and will to the end;
We mourn in silence and sorrow unseen,
And dwell in the memory of days that have been."
"However long our lives may last,
Whatever land we view,
Whatever griefs or pain we have,
Till death we think of you."
From his loving Father and Mother, 677 Rising Bridge.
Newspaper Report:
Mr. Thomas Gregson of 677 Manchester Road, Rising Bridge, has received word that his son, Private James Taylor Gregson aged 19, has been killed in action.
The deceased, who joined up on August 30th, 1916, had worked as a labourer at Industrial Mill.
Newspaper Memorials:
In loving memory of our dear and only Son, Private James Taylor Gregson, Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in France, May 10th 1917, and was interred at Brown Road British Cemetery, Festubert.
"The fairest flowers are first to fall,
A loving son, so true and brave;
Sweet is his memory dear to our hearts,
Our love for him never shall part."
From Father and Mother, 677 Rising Bridge.
"One year has passed, and hearts still sore,
As time flies on we miss him more;
His loving smile, his welcome face,
No one can fill the vacant place.
We do not forget him, nor do we intend,
We think of him daily, and will to the end;
We mourn in silence and sorrow unseen,
And dwell in the memory of days that have been."
"However long our lives may last,
Whatever land we view,
Whatever griefs or pain we have,
Till death we think of you."
From his loving Father and Mother, 677 Rising Bridge.
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| Pte James Taylor Gregson - Census information - Click over to enlarge |
