JAMES CAINE
Born: 8th August 1883, St. Luke’s, Brighton, East Sussex.
Died: 6th October 1920; age 37; died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis at Ipswich Borough Fever Hospital, Ipswich. Served 18 years & 328 days.
Informant Eleanor Caine – widow, of No. 17 Hut, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich.
Residence: No. 17 Hut, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: a Musician.
Royal Navy: 15th April 1902 – 3rd August 1902 – Campdown, Portsmouth – a Bandsman. Left for engagement with the Army services.
Enlistment Details: Date: 24th September 1902; location: Sandown; occupation: Musician; religion: Roman Catholic. Height: 5ft 6 1/2 ins, pale complexion, hazel eyes & reddish-brown hair.
Date of Entry Therein: 2nd April 1915 – Balkans.
Service:
Home – 24th September 1902 – 23rd November 1905
India – 24th November 1905 – 15th October 1914
Home – 16th October 1914 – 19th March 1915
Gallipoli – 20th March 1915 – 6th January 1916
Egypt – 7th January 1916 – 7th April 1916
France – 8th April 1916 – 23rd June 1918
Home – 24th June 1918 – 17th August 1918.
Discharged: 17th August 1918, aged 33 years & 328 days. Character – Very Good – residence: 118, Old Kent Road, London.
Rank: Battery Sergeant Major; Service Number: 12064
Regiment: Royal Garrison Artillery, 17th Heavy Battery, 121st Battery.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War, 1915 Star + Silver War Badge.
Funeral service and burial held on the 11th October.
Grave Reference:
BA.2.60.
Ipswich.
CENSUS
1911 India
James was 26 years old, married, and a Soldier, ranked Bombardier in the Royal Garrison Artillery.
On the 1911 census, James’s wife & daughter were in India.
Eleanor, 26.
Annie, 5 & 3 months.
On the 11th March 1905, at St. John’s Chapel, St. John the Evangalist Catholic Cathedral, Portsmouth, Hampshire, 21 year old, James, Gunner for the R.G.A., of Clarence Barracks, Portsmouth married 21 year old, Eleanor Georgina Brewer, of 67, St. George’s Square, Portsea, born December 1885, Portsea Island, Hampshire – daughter of Thomas James Brewer, a merchant seaman -Ryde Boats, and Elizabeth Eleanor Brewer, dressmaker – own account, of 16, Blenheim Street, Portsea Island.
Eleanor and James had four children:
Annie Helena Georgina Caine, born 6th December 1905, Portsmouth.
Eleanor Caine, born 21st March 1913, Multan, India.
Frances Caine, born 29th January 1918, Southampton.
James Caine, born April 1920, Ipswich.
Probate to Ellen Georgina Caine – widow.
Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – Friday, 15th October 1920 – MILITARY FUNERAL AT IPSWICH – The funeral took place at Ipswich Old Cemetery on Monday, with full military honours, of Sergeant Major James Caine, R.G.A. The coffin, on which lay the Union Jack, was conveyed from his house at Blackheath on a gun-carriage drawn by six horses, which together with a firing party furnished by the R.F.A., from the Barracks, Ipswich. A short service was conducted at St. Pancras Church, Ipswich, by Father Malone, who also officiated at the grave-side in the Field of Honour.
The chief mourners were Mrs. Caine, widow, Miss Caine, daughter, Mrs. Welham, and Mr. Adams, a friend.
Sergeant Major Caine was 20 years in the Army. During the late war, he served in Gallipoli, Egypt and France for 3 ½ years. His decorations included the 1914-1915 Star, the South African 2 bars, the Long Service, Good Conduct, Meritorious Service, General Service, and Victory medals.
The Royal Garrison Artillery, the RGA, developed from fortress-based artillery fixed positions, mainly coastal fortresses and batteries. In 1914, the army had only a small number of heavy artillery pieces. The RGA grew as warfare became static. Armed with heavy, large-calibre guns and howitzers positioned some way behind the front line, with immense destructive power.
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