Private 49809 James Harold Pooler

Died Home on Wednesday, 11th December 1918, age 21.
Buried in Grave C. "C." 290. at Tipton Cemetery, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.

W' Company of 1st Bn., Essex Regiment. 112nd Brigade of 37th Division.
Formerly 30811 15th Bn., Notts & Derby Regiment.

Son of James and Elizabeth Pooler, of 18, Cleton St., Dudley Port, Tipton.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Unknown, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/395357/

Genealogical Data

Birth of James Harold Pooler registered June quarter 1897 in Dudley.

1901 Census
11 Tividale Street, Tipton, Staffs.
James Pooler (36, Stocktaker at Sheet Mills, born Tipton), his wife Elizabeth (34, born Tipton), and their 5 children: Leonard (10, born Tipton), Edith (8, born Tipton), Lily (6, born Tipton), James (4, born Tipton), and Elizabeth (1, born Tipton).

1911 Census
7 Court, 5 House, Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
James Pooler (47, Labourer at Iron founders, born Tipton), his wife Elizabeth (45, born Tipton), and their 9 surviving children of 9: Leonard (19 Labourer at Iron founders, born Tividale), Edith (18, born Dudley Port), Lily (16, born Dudley Port), James Harold (14, born Dudley Port), Elizabeth (11, born Dudley Port), Elsie (9, born Dudley Port), Sydney (7, born Dudley Port), Victor (4, born Dudley Port), and Arthur (6 months, born Dudley Port).

Personal Data

James's elder brother Leonard was also killed on 16th August 1917, serving with the 4th Worcesters at Ypres.

On 30th August 1918, James was admitted to No. 34 Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) which was based at Fienvillers, about 5 miles south-west of Doullens. He had a burn on his left leg which was recorded as being accidental. He had arrived from No. 48 Field Ambulance and was evacuated from No. 34 CCS on board No. 42 Ambulance Train.

After James's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £2/11/3d (2 pounds, 11 shillings and 3 pence); this was paid to his mother and Sole Legatee, Elizabeth, in April 1919. His War Gratuity was £19/0/0d (19 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his mother in April 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that James had enlisted in approximately November 1914.

A Pension Claimant's Card exists for James's mother, Mrs Elizabeth Pooler, but there is no indication if a pension was actually paid. The Claimant's Card also mentions a Guardian, Mrs Emma Roberts, but there is no indication as to the nature of this relationship.

Action resulting in his death

James Pooler first served with the 15th (Nottingham) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (15/SF). The 15/SF was raised in February 1915 as a Bantam Battalion for men under the normal height requirement of 5 feet 3 inches. They trained initially near Nottingham, but became part of 35th Division training at Masham, North Yorkshire, and then on Salisbury Plain.

They moved to France on 1st February 1916 and it is reasonable to assume that James was with them, having enlisted in November 1914. The Division had heavy losses during the Battle of the Somme, seeing action at Bazentin, Arrow Head Copse, Maltz Horn Farm and Falfemont Farm. The men sent to reinforce the Bantam Battalions were not considered to the same standard as the initial Bantams – short men but physically strong. Many were rejected, and from then on, the Bantam nature of the 35th Division ended.

The 15/SF saw action during the 1917 Battle of Passchendaele, and the 1918 actions during the 100 Days.

We do not know when James transferred to the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, but it is reasonable to assume that this would have been after recovering from wounds or sickness.

James died at Cliff Military Hospital, Felixstowe, on 11th December 1918 – exactly a month after the Armistice came into effect. His Death Certificate records the cause of his death as appendicitis. He was shown as 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment, but this was likley to be purely administrative while he was undergoing medical treatment away from his normal battalion. He was described as previously having been employed as a Moulder. James was transported back to Tipton where he was buried in Tipton Cemetery on 22nd December 1918.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.