Private 235419

1st Bn. Leicestershire Reg.

Died Tuesday 8^th October 1918. aged 24.

Grave ref. B. 18 Ramicourt Cemetery, Aisne, France.

Private James William Henry Skinner was the son of Henry & Lucy Skinner of Prospect Villa, Laverick Road, Jacksdale, Notts. He was shown on the ‘absent voters list of 1918’ as living on Palmerston Street, Old Westwood, serving in B Co.1st/ 6th Btn. Leicestershires.
James is mentioned on his parents grave in St Mary’s Churchyard as their ‘beloved son’ who was ‘called to higher service’. His Mother, Lucy, died on the 4th January 1946 aged 81.

James enlisted at Eastwood, date unknown. He was originally Pte. 34874 of the Sherwood Foresters, transferring to the Leicestershire Regiment.
This was probably due to his Battalion being depleted and then absorbed to make up the shortfall in the Leicestershire Regiment.

Private Skinner was killed in action on Tuesday 8th October 1918, aged 24 years.

An extract from the ‘History of the Leicestershire Regiment’ recounts events of the 8th October as follows.

‘THE ATTACK ABOUT BOHAIN.’ The battalion advanced ‘according to plan’ on the morning of October 8th and gained the positions pointed out to it in the Sunken Road and about Doon Mill, encountering a certain amount of opposition and sustaining losses amounting to 4 officers and about 100 other ranks; these positions were held during the rest of the day.

He is buried at Ramicourt British Cemetery, Aisne, France, being one of 100 World War One Casualties buried at Ramicourt.

We would very much like to hear from any living relatives who may be able to furnish us with further details and perhaps even a photograph.

The Leicestershire Regiment WW1 casualties 7,028.
Source; R. Capewell, Discovering Military Badges.