| Surname: | James |
| Initials: | F H |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Army Number: | P/15376 |
| Notes: | MFP. Awarded the Victory and War Medals. First served abroad (1) France, 28/11/16 to 24/7/17. 28/12/1915 he enlisted as a Pte. 3 Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, No. 12219, address: 1109 Victoria Road, Alexander Park, London N22. 16/6/1918 transferred to MFP for duty in Western Command. Shown as Absent without leave from 6/9/1914 to 7/12/1915, cutting from Midland Daily Telegraph found in his army record: 18/12/1918: Peculiar Military Case. Pte. Frederick Harry James of the Shropshire Regiment and residing at Silverton Road, Coventry was charged with absconding from the Depot at Shrewsbury. Statement from Sgt. George Norton, Coventry City Police, 18/12/1915. In consequence of at telegram respecting Pte 12219 Frederick Harry James 9 Silverton Road, being an absconded recruit from the depot of the Shropshire Regiment at Shrewsbury, I made enquiries and found that he had left this address. at 9am, 17th inst I saw James at the Naval Lodge, Ordnance Works. I aske him if he were F H James who had formerly lodged at 9 Silverton Road, he replied Yes, i told him I should arrest him on an Army Order as an absconded recruit from the Army. He replied "Yes". I told him I should arrest him on an army Order as an absconded recruit from the Army, he replied "I have never been in the Army. I was attested at Coventry on the 9th inst in the Group System of Lord Derby Scheme". He strongly denied ever having enlisted in the Army at any other time. I took him to Foleshill Police Office and further questioned him. He then stated that about 18 months ago he went to a Recruiting Station at Wellington and signed a paper. he was also passed by a Dr. Webb, and was then told by the man in charge of the Recruiting Office he could go home. No rank, number, or regiment was mentioned, and he was under the impression he would be sent for if wanted. He received no papers of any description. I took him to the Central Police Station where he was detained pending further particulars from the Military Authorities. This man was brought before the Magistrates at 11 am, 19th Inst, when, inconsequence of his statements they remanded him till the 23/12/195 leaving the military, if they thought fit, to re-apprehend the man and take him away. Sgt Norton said he arrested the prisoner at the Ordnance Works, defendant said he had not been sworn and had not done it intentionally. He had been examined by a Doctor at Wellington last November but had not been attested. He had only intended to offer his services as a Clerk and had not been to Shrewsbury at all. He had been employed at the Coventry Ordnance Works as a Clerk for the past nine months. Prisoner was remanded on his own recognisances until Thursday next. No medal card found, information from medal roll page B 1103. 12/6/1919 he was awarded a pension of 5/6d per week to be reviewed in 39 weeks + 1/4d per week for one child, disability 20% injury to right ankle. Info from two Pension Index Cards: James, Harry, MFP, P/15376, KSLI, SFJ.2991, 17/6/1919, 3/6/1921, Stamp: Ad 2/6/1919 at 6/10d from 18/6/1919 to 16/3/1920, Chelsea No. Z/Misc/1923, received 2/6/1919. Also: James, L/Cpl, Frederick Henry, P/15376, MMP (Misc 321441), Z/Misc, MFP 1923, 7/1/1921. Frederick Harry James. |