James Ernest LAY

Main CPGW Record

Surname: LAY

Forename(s): James Ernest

Place of Birth: Gargrave, Yorkshire

Service No: 33685

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)

Battalion / Unit: 8th (Service) Battalion

Division: 3rd Division

Age: ---

Date of Death: 1918-03-24

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Bay 2.

CWGC Cemetery: ---

CWGC Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial(s): Not Listed (View Names Not Listed on a Local War Memorial)

Additional Information:

James Ernest Lay (born 4 July 1886) was the son of Emma Elizabeth Lay (born Wantage, Berkshire, c. 1866), daughter of James and Emma Lay, née Tabor. James, the grandfather, was born at Milton Lilbourne near Pewsey, Wiltshire and grandmother, Emma, at East Hendred, Berkshire.

1891 Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Yorkshire Census: 5, Railway Cottages - James Earnest Lay, aged 4 years, born Gargrave, Yorkshire, grandson of James and [step-grandson of] Sarah Ellen Lay. [Emma Lay died in 1876 and James married Sarah Ellen Dewhirst, née Holgate in 1886.]

1901 Stalmine-with-Stainall, Lancashire Census: Stainall - James Lay, aged 15 years, born Gargrave, Yorkshire, Servant, employed by William Singleton.

On 16 November 1907 James’s mother, Emma Elizabeth, married Edward Ernest Spooner at North Elmham, Norfolk. Emma died in 1939.

1911 Garstang, Lancashire Census: Fell End, Scorton - James Ernest Lay, aged 22 years, born Gargrave, Yorkshire. [James, a farm labourer, was employed by John Hully Moore and James Moore.]

James was married to Elsie Keyte in 1912.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte James Lay, 33685, R. Lanc. R.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte James Lay, 33685, 8th K.O.R.L.

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte James Lay, 33685, 8 Bn Kings R. Lancs. Date and Place of Death: 24.3.18 in Action France. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow - Elsie. £12 9s. 1d.

UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: Pte James Lay, 33685, 8th Royal Lancs. Date and cause of death: 24.3.18 France. Killed in Action. Wife: Remarried - Elsie Smith. Date of birth: 28.3.87. 4, George St. Galgate [first address crossed out] 12, The Grove, Riland Rd. Sutton, Warwick. Children: *James Ernest Bertram. Date of birth: 11.4.13. Date of expiry: 11.4.29. Arthur Leslie. Date of birth: 22.4.17. Date of expiry: 22.4.33. Pension: 25/5 [£1 5s. 5d.] a week.
* Rev. Hodson Smith, National Childrens Home, 104-122, City Rd. London, Guardian of James, 25.9.18. Pension for James to be held in obeyance [sic] pen[d]ing instructions. Instructed I. O. to issue pension for the child James Ernest Bertram to the Rev. Hodson Smith, National Childrens Home, 104-122, City Rd. E.C1, or Guardian, at the lower rate of 5/- [5s.] per week with effect from 7.10.18. Pension for the child Arthur Leslie should be adjusted accordingly and arrears paid to the widow.

Data Source: Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19 Records

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Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---

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