James Richard Ormerod

Private 35986
17th Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers

James was killed in action on 14 October 1918, aged 33, whilst serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was the husband of Margaret Ann Ormerod, of 23 Old Row, Rawtenstall, Manchester.

James is believed to be the James R. Ormerod, aged 16, who was living with his widowed mother, Ann, and siblings, John William, Mary E. and Ellen Ann, at 97 Bury Rd, Rawtenstall, at the time of the 1901 Census.

He is also believed to be the Pte J.R. Ormerod, of Rossendale, whose death was reported in the Rossendale Free Press on 30 November 1918. J.R. Ormerod's age in this report is given as 28 years.

17th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers was formed in Bury on 3 December 1914, by Lieutenant-Colonel G.E. Wilke and a committee, as a Bantam Battalion.

Bantam battalions were originally battalions formed from men who were under regulation size but otherwise fit for service.

From 21 June 1915 the Battalion was attached to 104th Brigade, 35th Division.

James is buried in Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Moorslede, Belgium (Grave Ref. I. E. 28).

Moorslede lies 16 kilometres east of Ypres, and was the scene of heavy fighting in late September and October 1918, during the final advance in Flanders.

James' name is also commemorated on the war memorial in Rawtenstall Cemetery.

The Soldiers Died in the Great War Database records that James was born in Cloughfold, and enlisted in the Army in Rawtenstall.

James' grave in Dadizeele New British Cemetery