James Hunt Bingham (1885–1918)

Driver


Royal Engineers
WR313269

Labour Corps 526873  

Photos courtesy Sheila Brentnall

Photo of James Hunt Bingham

Biography
Born at Crich, James was raised by his grandparents at Crich and Leicester. He married Annie Cowlishaw (née Cowlishaw) in 1903 and they lived at Fritchley and Darley Dale, with four children. He initially served with the rank of Driver with the Royal Engineers. The WR prefix on his number denotes 'Waterways & Railways'. He later served with the rank of Private with the 699th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps. The photograph shows James with the cap badge of the Army Service Corps, and 'ASC' is just about visible on his right shoulder. This can presumably be explained due to the fact that twenty-eight of the ASC Labour Companies were absorbed into the newly-created Labour Corps between February and June 1917. Whilst serving with the 699th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps, he died of his wounds on 14 November 1918 at a military hospital at Canterbury, Kent. He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s, Crich,where a memorial headstone marks his grave, and he is listed on the war memorial outside the church.

Annie Bingham

Annie Cowlishaw

Newpaper Reports

Derbyshire Courier, 29 December 1917
A feature of the holiday has been the unusually large number of local soldiers who have been fortunate in securing Christmas leave. The list includes Sgt C. Mason, from Ecclesall (Staffs), convalescent home; Private J W Heathcote, A S C (Mechanical Transport), from France; and driver William Coleman, France – the two latter were over together just a year ago – and Sapper Hy V. Smith in the Signalling Service, R.E., who came from France on Monday, after eight months across the Channel. Driver Jas H Dawes, Driver James Bingham, Lance Corporal W Hallam, Cpl Jas Holmes, and Bugler William Hartshorne have also been over on leave. The latter, who is staying with Mr A Buckley, of Park Head, is attached to the Canadian Forces. Along with his parents he emigrated from Park Head, Crich, to the Dominion before the war, and like his brother, Tom, he enlisted in the Canadians during the earlier stages of the war.

Derbyshire Courier 23 November 1918
At Canterbury Military Hospital on Thursday of last week, Private James BINGHAM, of the Dimple, Crich, died from bronchial pneumonia. Private BINGHAM who was attached to the R.E. had been engaged on farm work at Goodnestone, Kent. In civil life he was employed at Haslam’s Pit, Ripley. Deceased, who was 35 years of age, leaves a widow and four children. The interment took place at Crich Parish Churchyard on Wednesday. A party of Sherwoods from Derby attended. After the committal rites , conducted by the Rev C.E.B. DEACON, of Alderwasley, the “Last Post” was sounded.
[There followed a list of mourners]

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Name BINGHAM
Initials J.
Nationality United Kingdom
Rank Driver
Regiment/Service Royal Engineers
Secondary Regiment Labour Corps (transferred to Pte 526873)
Date of Death 14/11/18
Service No WR/313269
Casualty type Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference By North wall of North-East part
Cemetery CRICH (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD

War graves certificate for James Bingham in WW1

Headstone of james Hunt Bingham in Crich graveyard

James headstone in St Mary's Churchyard

Soldiers' Effects Book
Bingham James; 699 Ag. Co. Labour Corps; Private 536873; death No 1 Military Hospital Canterbury on 14.11.19 ; War Gratuity £5; widow Annie & children received £10 5s 4d on 16.5.19

CENSUS INFORMATION

1891: Edgemoor, Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Thomas Bingham Head 60 Farmer South Normanton
Clara Bingham wife 57   North Molton, Notts
Seddon Bingham son 16   S.Wingfield
Alice Bingham daughter 14   S. Wingfield
James H. Bingham g.son 6   Crich
Albert Hallam servant 19   Riddings

RG12 piece 2746 folio 76 page 3

1901: Leicester

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Charity Bingham Head (wdw) 67 Farmer Devon
Mary Bingham daughter 36   Tupton
Seddon Bingham son 26 Farmer S.Wingfield
James H. Bingham g.son 16 Farmer Crich

RG13 piece 3231 folio 32 page 9

1911: Darley Dale

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
James Hunt Bingham Head 27 Farm labourer Crich
Annie Bingham wife 28   Fritchley
Essie Vera Bingham daughter 7   Fritchley
Marjorie Bingham daughter 2   Basford

RG14PN21203 RG78PN1262 RD439 SD2 ED5 SN130

1918 Voters List
James Bingham, Dimple, absent on military service.