A GodmancheSTER MAN

William Alfred James was born in the Huntingdonshire town of Godmanchester on December 31st, 1891.

He died before I was born but, to me, my grandfather's life has always represented the epitome of duty and public service. The son of a miller, he was born just as the 19th Century was waning and the world was about to face a time of trial. He rose to every challenge that he faced, from fighting in France during the First World War, to steering the people of Godmanchester through a constitutional crisis as a thrice-elected Mayor.

Just over twenty years before William's birth, Godmanchester was described in The National Gazetteer Of Great Britain And Ireland as:

'A parish in the hundred of Toseland, county Huntingdon, 1 mile south-east of Huntingdon, of which it is a suburb, and is included within the borough. It is situated on the banks of the river Ouse, which is here crossed by a bridge. It is supposed to occupy the site of the Roman station Durolepons, and was called by the Saxons Gumecestre. It was held by the Dane, Guthram, to whom it was given by Alfred. It received its charter of incorporation from James I., and under the new Corporation Act is governed by a mayor, 4 aldermen, and 12 councillors.

This place is somewhat noted for its production of cream cheese.'

William's early life was pretty typical for a boy of his era and social standing, receiving his education at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, situated by an ornate Chinese bridge - both of which still stand today.

Each day started with Bible Lessons, but the educational emphasis was on being able to read, write, spell and to have an understanding of basic arithmetic. Attendance was a continual problem in an agricultural community where duties on the land took precedence. The entry for June 26th 1882 in the school log book records: 'miserable attendance - great number of boys away haymaking, many unqualified to go to work' and on April 29th 1884: 'a few boys are away to gather cowslips'.

Having lied about his age to enlist in 1908 when he was just 17, William joined the Grenadier Guards, service number 13955.,

He became a member of the King's Company, the sovereign's personal bodyguard, to which he was attached for six years. In that time, my grandfather would find himself standing vigil at the Lying-in-State of Edward VII in Westminster Hall, 17th-19th May, 1910, receiving the Royal Victorian Medal for his service. This was the first time a monarch's body had been placed on public display and over half a million mourners filed past the coffin to pay their respects. He was then Guard of Honour at King George V's coronation and also when, in 1911, the Queen Victoria Monument was unveiled at Buckingham Palace. In later life he would recall seeing the young Prince Albert, later George VI, and Princess Mary playing in the grounds of the Palace. It was not the last time that this self-styled 'Godmanchester Man' would find himself in the proximity of royalty.

The 1911 census finds William at the army training centre at Pirbright Camp in Surrey, but an early photograph shows him (back row, fourth from the left) as a member of Godmanchester Football Club (now Godmanchester Rovers) a year later, when he would have been just 21.

Just a year or so after this photograph was taken, war broke out. Private James' war service was brief as you will see, but full of incident and tragedy. Luckily, he left a written record titled 'My Short Experience Of Fighting in France' (the handwriting is beautiful, by the way) and I include it below (in bold). The text in Italics is taken from 'The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-1919' (Vol 1) by Frederick Ponsonby. Many of his recollections corroborate what my grandfather wrote in his brief memoir, and they often provide a good deal more detail. Private James fought as part of No. 4 Company of the 1st Battalion.

Left Southampton Dock with 7th Division on Oct 5th (1914) on the transport Turcoman. Landed at Zeebrugge on Oct 8th after being at sea 3 days.

Disembarking was none too easy a task, for the jetty was much too small for ships of that size, and there were no cranes or other appliances for unshipping the horses, which just had to be pushed down gangways.

On the same date we train to St Andreas (Sint-Andries), billeted for the night. Marched to Iderburg (Ledeberg) on the 9th + on to Ostend 10th + trained to Ghent the same date, rested on the 11th.

No. 4 Company billeted in a timber yard close by. The nights were cold and when the Battalion requisitioned for blankets, huge rolls of velvet from the dye works were issued by the Belgian authorities.

Outpost duty at night heavy fighting just on the borders of Ghent. The Germans drove us out of Ghent the same night we had a long night march to Somerghem (Zomergem). On the night of the 12th another long march to Thielt (Tielt). Brought down enemy aeroplane on the 13th.

A burst of heavy rifle fire at 6 o'clock next morning... brought everyone scrambling out of their billets. But it turned out to be only a Taube, at which everyone who had a rifle was taking a shot. Eventually it was brought down about a mile off, the Grenadiers, Scots Fusiliers and Pom-Pom Detachment all claiming the hit.

Marched on to Roulers on the 14th, on to Ypres on the 15th. I mounted enemy scout outpost during the night + bagged 2 more scouts. Rested in trenches on the 16th, during night moved off from Ypres about 3 miles out and entrenched. Expected attack from Von Gluck's army but he retired about 3 miles. On 17th & 18th attacked all round at night on outpost duty at Messines.

The men imagined that they had only to scrape out shelters sufficient for a day or two. They little thought that they were laying the foundation of a network of trenches which would be used for the next four years.

On 19th morning we moved off a few fields forward + entrenched again for the night of 19th, 20th + 21st. Terrible fighting and bombardment by Germans night and day. A maxima gun only 50 yards off waiting for us to put our heads up but we finally charged and captured the gun + only 22 men and 2 officers were left. My next pal was shot in the head by shrapnel. The shell dropped in the trench + knocked all the roof off and buried us. While helping to carry my pal (Stevens) back, the Germans attacked and bullets fell like nails but I got through without a scratch.

We kept in the trenches until the 22nd when we was relieved on the night of the 22nd we reinforced the 21st Brigade under heavy fire all night. On the 23rd we moved off to shelter trenches + the shells fell like nails 5th day. Terrible battle rumoured, reinforcement of the 2 divisions (by) General French. On the 23rd we help(ed) the South Wales Borderers. Germans broke through and our guns were in danger. We were caught under enemy's shell fire. Heaps of wounded. Terrible slaughters.

Out all night, but on the 24th fell back to rest in trenches until about 3:30 in the afternoon when we were call(ed) out to reinforce our troops. About 2000 Germans had broken through + our company no. 4 had to drive them back. Out of 225 only 120 were left. We also lost 5 officers out of 6. It was estimated by General Paul of the French army that we drove 2000 Germans back.

We was mentioned in dispatches for it + praised by General French.

Early in the morning of the 25th October we (were) reinforced by the 2nd Division + French guns. On the 26th we were in our dug outs but was shelled all day. Out all night on the 27th. Poured with rain all night. The Germans broke through but we captured them by scores. We were all fed up and had to retire but about 200 men (lost) doing so. We went to Ypres + joined the rest of the army. The roll of company was call(ed) and only 82 men was left.

On the morning of the 28th we advanced to trenches. Was in them all night. On the 29th was attacked + we were drove back by about 4000 Germans but we finally charged and lost 3 parts of the Batt(alion) but we got them back again. I had my bayonet blow off my rifle in the charge. We went in billets but on the morning of the 30th we again advanced in reserve.

This is where I got my wound in those trenches + was took to hospital at Boloange (Boulogne?).

Signed Pte W. James

1st Batt

Gren Gds no 4 coy.

Out of a thousand men who fought in the 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Guards at Ypres, my grandfather was one of just 200 who came home.

Hit by a German shell, the whole of the bottom half of his face was blown away. William would have been made as comfortable as possible at the field dressing station near the trenches before being moved to a Casualty Clearing Station, then on to the 13th Stationary Hospital opened in October 1914 on the Boulogne docks before being trained home. Such was the severity of his wound, that the church bells rang in his home village to pronounce him dead. In fact, he survived, spending three years in hospital undergoing 23 operations to his face in the days before plastic surgery as we know it. One family story relates how, during the reconstruction, the surgeons sewed a portion of his top lip on backwards resulting in him having to shave the inside of his mouth for the rest of his life. He was discharged from service on 10th May, 1916 and returned to the town of which he felt so much a part.

William James was proclaimed a 'Life-Saving Hero' when, in September 1922, he was presented with the Royal Humane Society's certificate for 'saving a little girl named Croot from drowning in the mill stream last August'. The family expressed their gratitude to William for his 'noble effort in saving their little daughter and they also sent £1, which they asked should be presented to Mr James'.

'Mr James', it was reported, 'was too modest a hero to attempt to make a speech in reply'.

In 1930, William married Hilda May Samsome from Taunton, Somerset, in St Mary's Church, Godmanchester. They started a family (two children; my father, another William, and a daughter Pamela) and my grandfather began to lead a life of public service as Councillor James, then serving three successful terms as Mayor of Godmanchester during a turbulent time for the country. He was first elected at a ceremony in November 1934.

'Councillor Figg proposed the election of Coun. William James as Mayor for the ensuing 12 months, and in doing so said that Coun. James was born in Godmanchester, and was a Freeman of the Borough. He was a man of upright character, and they all felt most confident he would serve the town as Mayor in as good a manner as he had done as Councillor. They all knew him and the good work he had already done, both as a soldier and a citizen.'

The new Mayor responded:

'I feel that I am part and parcel of Godmanchester. I was born here and have lived here for the greater part of my life. I say nothing of my war service, except that, with many others from this Borough, I did my little bit. I was fortunate, however, that unlike some of my old comrades from Godmanchester, I was able to come back. It is because I have fought and suffered for my country that I feel a personal pride in this town of my birth, and am willing to give to it whatever personal service I can offer.'

1935 saw the Silver Jubilee of George V, at whose coronation William had formed one of the Guard of Honour 25 years before. The telegram from the King was the first of many such messages he was to receive from Buckingham Palace over the course of his Mayoralty. His first year in post also saw him raising money for the 'unemployed and other deserving townspeople' through the Mayor's Christmas Fund (the grand total of £20 15s 8p was distributed over the festive period that year).

He also gave prizes at the Grammar School, was invited to 'look over' Huntingdon County Hospital courtesy of the Board of Management, and applied for membership to the Grenadier Guards Comrades Assoiation (Cambridge Branch). In response, a Mr T Cooke noted 'the great honour that has been bestowed upon you by becoming the Mayor of Godmanchester. I am sure,' he continued, 'we are all very proud to know that one of our own members has gained this distinction. To the best of my knowledge you are the first Grenadier to have had this honour.'

1936 proved to be the year of three Kings. King George V died in January following 'an illness of only four days'. Continuing 'an ancient and picturesque custom', Alderman James read the Proclamation announcing Edward VIII as monarch on horseback outside the town hall and across from Queen Elizabeth School, where he had attended as a boy. Another telegram from the Palace followed, sincerely thanking 'the council and inhabitants of Godmanchester'.

It was a scene that was to be recreated just months later. Following the shocking abdication of Edward VIII, his brother George VI was elevated to the throne. Another proclamation ceremony took place, the new King and Queen having already sent a telegram to all those involved expressing 'their sincere thanks for their loyal assurances'.

Other notable occurrences that year, aside from the usual formal dinner invitations, included Godmanchester's oldest resident, Emma Roberts, celebrating her 103rd birthday (in fact, she would eventually live to 105), William's parents marking their Golden Wedding anniversary, and William James attending a reunion dinner for the Grenadier Guards. November 1936 saw Alderman James elected for a third successive term as Mayor. During a vote of thanks, it was noted that the Mayor had presided over 'the death of a sovereign, the proclamation of a sovereign, the coronation of a sovereign and the silver jubilee of a sovereign in three consecutive years'.

The coronation celebrations of 1937 took up a lot of the Alderman's time, from organising and attending festivities, to handing out Coronation Medals to the local children.

Alongside the festivities came sadder news as reported in the local newspaper:

'After a lingering illness of some weeks' duration, the death occurred on Saturday evening of Mr William James, father of the Mayor of Godmanchester, at the age of 76 years.

Mr James, who was a Freeman of the Borough, served in his younger days in the 1st East Surrey Regiment throughout the Zulu Campaign.

"Sunny view" the bungalow in which he lived was built for him and Mrs James by the present Mayor in 1923. Mr and Mrs James celebrated their golden wedding last October. It is worthy of mention that Mr James throughout his long illness expressed a wish to hear the bells of the Parish Church on Coronation Day morning, and his wish was granted.'

In the midst of all the previous year's activity, Alderman James was creating real change for the residents of Godmanchester. Following protracted works in which William himself had been instrumental, mains water was on its way to the town for the first time. During a vote of thanks to mark the end of his third term in office, it was remarked, 'To nobody could the success of the water undertaking be credited more than to the Mayor, who had been the one to unravel many of the intricate problems.'

'Somehow,' it was recorded at another council meeting, 'Mayor James has captured my imagination for the catholicity of his interpretation of Mayoral duties. One day I saw him in his robe and chain speaking with the children at the Council School; the next day I saw him in thigh breeches down a drain, locating a blockage. Not only must he know things, he must help do them.'

Having finally resigned from the office of Mayor, 'to make way for a younger man', William Alfred James returned to the Council benches and was recommended for, and awarded with, a position as Justice of the Peace. In this capacity, he served on the Godmanchester bench as magistrate, presiding over summary criminal cases and passing the most serious offenses onto the Crown Court.

Quite how he found the time to build his own house, I will never know.

The news that the erstwhile Mayor had turned housebuilder even made the pages of the Daily Mirror, a national newspaper in the UK. 'Mayor of the borough for three consecutive years,' it reported on Wednesday December 28th, 1938, 'Alderman W James of Godmanchester, Hunts, is proud of the fact that he built his own house. He was architect, bricklayer, carpenter, plumber, and his only aid was a sixpenny manual on building he found on an old bookstall.'

It's a testament to his many skills that his son William, my father, spent his whole life in the same house and, having been sold some thirteen years after his death, it still stands today albeit with extensions and renovations.

Through the Second World War my grandfather served as a Captain in the Home Guard in the Beds and Herts Regiment and served on the council until 1946. Sometime after, following an estrangement from his wife, Hilda May, he bought and lived on an area of land in Godmanchester known as The Island. Purchased from the owners of Island Hall and described as an 'embowered island with wildflowers,' the bridge that connected it was torn down to make for a more secluded plot. Here William built a single storey, two room fisherman's hut. A modest building, this was to be his home until he died on August 14th, 1966. His death certificate records the cause of death as Cardiac failure. He was 74.

His obituary records how 'he was a keen angler and a member of Godmanchester Fishing Club, also a member of the bowling club and a trustee of the Comrades Club. He leaves a widow, Mrs Hilda James, whom he married in 1930; a son, Mr William J N James of Silver-street, Godmanchester; and a daughter, Mrs Pamela M Grey, of Kenton, Middlesex.'

An extraodinary life had come to an end. Yet, through it all, William retained a modesty, often referring to his War service as 'doing my little bit'. And I honestly think that's how he thought of it. Not as anything special, but as doing his little bit during a period of time when duty and loyalty were considered part of national and local life.

Mention of him being a member of the local fishing club brings me to one of my favourite photographs of William Alfred James. In fact, I've used it as the banner at the top of this page. It's a postcard from the 1960s, printed to promote the delights of Godmanchester. There in the foreground to the right of frame, sits my grandfather in later life, wearing a flat cap and with a pipe in his mouth and a rod in his hand, fishing in the River Ouse. It's a peaceful scene, which seems a fitting end to a life full of incident.

Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time.

A Psalm of Life, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow