James  Reynolds Duffin likeness

James  Reynolds Duffin cap badgeGunner James Reynolds Duffin

Royal Field Artillery "D" Battery 235th Brigade
Service No: 132455 / 961697

James  Reynolds Duffin grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of Thomas and Jessie Reynolds Duffin of 32 St John St, Coatbridge. James was the eldest of 9 children. From the 1901 Census - Address - 32 Langmuir Sq, Coatbridge - Thomas Duffin aged 35, Jessie Duffin aged 30, James Duffin aged 8, Margaret Duffin aged 7, Jane Duffin aged 5, Jessie Duffin aged 2, Charles (Charlie) Duffin aged 6 months and father's brother Francis Duffin aged 24. James also had 2 younger brothers named Thomas (Tommy) and William (Bill) and 2 younger sisters Helen and Veronica. James' Pension was awarded to his mother Jessie of 32 St John St, Coatbridge then 6 Laird St, Coatbridge.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 32 St John St, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action 31/05/1918 at Bazieux, Somme

Enlisted

Hamilton

Employed

with the Co-Operative Society.

Age

25

Buried / Remembered

Bavelincourt Communal Cemetery (B. 13), Somme, France.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The communal cemetery was used from April to August 1918 by units and field ambulances of the 47th (London) and 58th (London) Divisions. The cemetery contains 54 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.

Additional Information

The Royal Field Artillery 235th Brigade were part of the 47th (2nd London) Division. When the Germans launched their offensive in March 1918 the 47th Division was in the line in the Flesquieres salient, in V Corps, on the extreme right of Third Army. Over the next six days the Division conducted a fighting withdrawal till, on the 26th of March it crossed the Ancre where the enemy advance was brought to a halt. Ironically, the Division’s line of retreat had taken it through High Wood which it had captured at great cost eighteen months earlier. In the final advance to victory the Division, now in Fourth Army, retraced its steps through the Somme battlefield till, in October it came under command Fifth Army in the operations in Artois. SEE PHOTOS x 10 FOR THE 235th BRIGADE WAR DIARY APRIL - MAY 1918. James was 1 of 11 men of "D" Battery 235th Brigade who fell on the 31/05/1918. All 11 men are buried in Bavelincourt Communal Cemetery. 9 more were wounded in the month of May. A huge thank you to James' relative Jim Duffin who kindly sent James' photo and the photos of the Memorial Cross and message (see photos). James is listed as SIGNALLER on the Memorial and his Memorial Cross (see photos). He is also remembered on the St Patrick's Roll of Honour (book). See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, photos of his grave x 2, Bavelincourt Communal Cemetery (the Cemetery was used from April to August 1918 by units and field ambulances of the 47th (London) and 58th (London) Divisions. The Cemetery contains 54 burials), James, his Memorial Cross and message, his message, his Memorial Cross, James' Pension Records x 2 and the Royal Field Artillery Cap Badge. James' grave inscription reads "SWEET JESUS HAVE MERCY ON HIM OUR LADY OF LOURDES PRAY FOR HIM. R.I.P".

Photos
James  Reynolds Duffin Medal Index CardJames  Reynolds Duffin newspaper clippingJames  Reynolds Duffin newspaper clippingJames  Reynolds Duffin newspaper clippingJames  Reynolds Duffin remembered at homeJames  Reynolds Duffin remembered at homeJames  Reynolds Duffin remembered at homeJames  Reynolds Duffin remembered at homeJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photoJames  Reynolds Duffin additional photo

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

Creative Commons License

We have made this information and the images available under a Creative Commons BY-NC license. This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement: © coatbridgeandthegreatwar.com

Comments
James was my uncle. He died 27 years before I was born. My understanding is that he worked in the Cooperative before enlisting. He was the eldest of nine children and the only son old enough to fight in the Great War. Many thanks for your work on this site.
James Duffin , Hamilton, 28/03/2019 4:29PM

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