Pte. J.E. Neesam

FIRST NAMES: James E.

UNIT: Royal Defence Corps

NUMBER: 38449

STATUS: Died

DATE OF DEATH: 19th January 1918

CEMETERY OR MEMORIAL: Brompton Churchyard

AGE: 38

James Neesam's father was called George. He was married with a daughter, and he used to play for Brompton Football Club before the War.

He had served overseas originally in his local Territorial Battalion, the 4th Yorkshire Regiment, before being discharged. It is not known why he was discharged, though it is most likely because he had reached the end of his term of service in the Territorials, which, if true, means that he was a member of the Battalion before the War broke out.

He clearly felt that he could not stay at home while his comrades continued to fight in France as he re-enlisted in the 4th Yorkshires after a short time and returned to the front. He was slightly wounded on St. Valentine's Day 1915 on the same day as Sergeant Martin, from Northallerton, was killed. This was as a result of a mine which the Germans exploded under the 4th Yorkshire's trenches at Hill 60, near Ypres.

He continued to serve with the Battalion until sometime in 1917 when it became clear that the strain of the fighting had broken his health and he was discharged. On his return home he joined the Royal Defence Corps but his health continued to deteriorate and he died, aged 38, on 19th January 1918. He was buried in Brompton Cemetery, with full Military Honours on 23rd January 1918.