Main CPGW Record
Surname: PRESTON
Forename(s): James Herbert
Place of Birth: Gargrave, Yorkshire
Service No: 24692
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment / Corps / Service: New Zealand Military Forces
Battalion / Unit: Home Service Section
Division: ---
Age: 55
Date of Death: 1916-12-27
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Block 93. Plot 6. (C. of E. Portion.).
CWGC Cemetery: ASHBURTON CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial(s): Not Listed (View Names Not Listed on a Local War Memorial)
Additional Information:
James Herbert Preston was the son of Robert and Ann Preston, née Finister. Robert was born at Gargrave and Ann at Husthwaite, Yorkshire.
1871 Gargrave, Yorkshire Census: High Street - James Preston, aged 9 years, born Gargrave, son of Robt and Annie Preston.
1881 Gargrave, Yorkshire Census: High Street - James H. Preston, aged 19 years, born Gargrave, son of Robert and Annie Preston.
James was married to Dorothy Snowden, 23 October 1895, at Kings, New York, U.S.A.
1901 Gargrave, Yorkshire Census: Back High Street - James H. Preston, aged 39 years, born Skipton, Yorkshire, husband of Dorothy Preston.
1911 Garston, Lancashire Census: 1, Russell Place - James Herbt Preston, aged 49 years, born Skipton, Yorkshire, husband of Dorothy Preston.
New Zealand service records: https://www.govt.nz/browse/history-culture-and-heritage/nz-history/get-a-copy-of-a-ww1-service-record/
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
PRESTON, Sergeant James Herbert, aged 55, son of Mr. R. Preston, Park House, [Gargrave], died following accident, New Zealand, Dec. 27, 1916.
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Sergeant James Herbert PRESTON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: New Zealand Military Forces
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View Additional Image(s)
Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
The family of Henry and Jane Snowden, née Howson
- James Herbert Preston is standing on the far left and his wife, Dorothy Preston, née Snowden is standing on the far right
Donated by Tom Henderson
The family of James Herbert and Dorothy Preston, née Snowden
standing (l-r) - Robert Joseph Rowland (b. 1898), Herbert Henry Clifford (b. 1896), Dorothy (b. 1870); sitting (l-r) - Lancelot Norman (b. 1900), Dorothy Novello (b. 1902), James Henry (b. 1862)
Donated by Tom Henderson
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
09 March 1917
PRESTON – December 27th , 1916, at Methven, New Zealand, the result of an accident, Sergt. James Henry Preston, son of Mr. Robert Preston, of Park House, Gargrave, aged 55 years.
09 March 1917
GARGRAVE – ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A SERGEANT IN NEW ZEALAND
Mr. Robert Preston, of Park House, Gargrave, has just received fuller particulars of the accidental death of his son, Sergt. James Henry Preston, of the Trentham Military Camp, Ashburton, New Zealand, on the 27th of December last.
At the time of his death he was at Methven on leave, where his son Clifford Preston is located. Deceased emigrated to New Zealand a few years ago from Seaforth, Liverpool, and it is thought that he fell over the stairs bannister, being occasionally the victim of somnambulism, traces of which he showed before leaving England. The accident happened on December 22nd. He was removed to hospital and died as above stated, never recovering consciousness. At an inquiry into the cause of death the jury found a verdict of “Death from concussion of the brain”.
Writing to his son, the camp Quarter-Master Captain J. W. Boon, says:– “I take this opportunity of expressing to you the sympathy of the whole of the quartermaster’s staff on the death of your father, Sergeant Preston. I valued him as a conscientious, trustworthy non-commissioned officer, and his loss to our staff is a great one.”
A cutting from a local paper reads:– “The remains of the late Sergeant James Henry Preston were laid to rest in the Ashburton Cemetery this afternoon (December 29th).Deceased was accorded a military funeral according to rank, the firing party consisting of 19 members of the Territorials and Senior Cadets. The cortege, which moved from the hospital, was composed of a number of senior cadets and soldiers on leave, and was in charge of Sergeant Major Willers. The Rev. Mr. Sparrow conducted the service at the graveside.”
Deceased was 55 years of age and leaves a widow and one daughter and three sons, one of whom – Rowland – is now ‘joined up’ in Rugeley Camp, Staffordshire, a fine young fellow of 5 foot 10½ inches, and who has for some time been farm servant with Mr. Christopher Metcalfe, at Scosthorp, Malhamdale.
29 March 1918
PRESTON – March 22nd, aged 82 years, Robert Preston, Park House, Gargrave.
[Father of Sgt. James Herbert Preston]
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
09 March 1917
GARGRAVE – DEATH OF SERGEANT JAMES HERBERT PRESTON
Mr. Robert Preston, of Park House, Gargrave, has received fuller particulars of the accidental death of his son, Sergt. James Herbert Preston, of the Trentham Military Camp, Ashburton, New Zealand, on Dec. 27th last. At the time of his death he was at Methven on leave, where his son Clifford Preston is located. Deceased emigrated to New Zealand a few years ago from Seaforth, Liverpool. It is thought that he fell over the stairs bannister, being occasionally the victim of somnambulism, signs of which he showed before leaving England. The accident happened on Dec. 22nd, and he was removed to hospital and died as above stated, never recovering consciousness. At an inquiry into the cause of death the jury found a verdict of “Death from concussion of the brain.”
Writing to his son, the Camp Quartermaster, Captain J.W. Boon, says: “I take this opportunity of expressing to you the sympathy of the whole of the quartermaster’s staff on the death of your father, Sergeant Preston. I valued him as a conscientious, trustworthy non-commissioned officer, and his loss to our staff is a great one.”
A cutting from a local paper reads: “The remains of the late Sergeant James Herbert Preston were laid to rest in the Ashburton Cemetery this afternoon (Dec. 29th). Deceased was accorded a military funeral according to rank, the firing parry consisting of 19 members of the Territorial and Senior Cadets. The cortège, which moved from the hospital, was comprised of a number of senior Cadets and soldiers on leave, and was in charge of Sergt.-Major Willers. The Rev. Mr. Sparrow conducted the service at the graveside.
Deceased was 55 years of age, and leaves a widow, and one daughter and three sons. One of the latter (Rowland) is now ‘joined up’ in Rugeley Camp, Staffordshire, a fine young fellow of 5ft. 10½in., and who has for some time been farm servant with Mr. Christopher Metcalfe, at Scosthrop, Malhamdale.
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