JAMES WILLIAM WELHAM

image from 1917 Suffolk Chronicle & Mercury newspaper.

Born: 1888, St. Clements, Ipswich.

Died: 27th April 1917; age 28; Died Of Wounds received on the 24th April at a casualty clearing station.

Enlistment Location: Ipswich.

Date of Entry Therein: 16th January 1915 – France.

Rank: Corporal; Service Number: 12445

Regiment: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), 151st Coy.

Formerly 7569, Suffolk Regiment.

Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.

Grave Reference:

IX.E.2.

Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery,

Saulty,

Pas de Calais,

France.

Relatives Notified: Son of Mr James & Mrs Harriet Welham, of 64, Wykes Bishop Street, Ipswich.

Brother to CHARLES WELHAM.

CENSUS

1891   11, Albert Street, Ipswich.

James was 2 years old and living with his parents & sister.

James Thomas Welham, 25, a Seaman, born Ipswich.

Harriet Ann Welham (nee Stevens), 25, born Ipswich.

Alice Ruth Welham, 4, born Ipswich.

1901   56, Wykes Bishops Street, Ipswich.

James was 12 years old and living with his parents & siblings.

James, 35, a Dock Labourer

Harriet, 36.

Alice, 14.

Charles Welham, 6, born Ipswich.

Lily Annie Welham, 9, born Ipswich.

Soldiers’ Effects to James T. Welham – father.

James is also remembered on St. Clement’s Church WW1 War Memorial

 Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), 151st Coy

The Machine Gun Corps was formed in October 1915 as the machine gun proved to be held affective as infantry support in trench warfare. Cavalry and Motor branches, followed in 1916 by the Heavy Branch. A depot and training centre was established at Belton Park in Grantham Lincolnshire also a training base depot at Camiers in France .the men were trained to a higher technical standard, capable of stripping down and mending the guns in the field.

The Machine Gun Corps had 62,049 casualties, including 12,498 killed out of 170,500 officers and men earning it the nickname ’the Suicide Club’ manly as machine guns were static or fix positions becoming prime targets for the enemy.