retired from the army, works for Hewlett Packard. Ken lives in north Hampshire and has two children. David Buckley teaches Maths at a School in Kent. Bob Ryan and Victoria are expecting their first baby any day now and are variously resident in Canada, Sweden and UK as the mood takes them and Richard Forde-Johnston has three children, is a Director at the i3 Group and lives in North Wales.
I should also mention a few other names: Simon Ellis, ex B Company and now a Solicitor in Chester, ran the 2010 race so fast that we didn’t even see him pass us! Mind you, we all had our heads down in the heat and 40-something mists of pain and, after all, he did complete the fell race event (over the same course) in just over four hours, which incredible time - to us fat boys anyway - secured him fourth place overall and first in the Veteran (40) Class.
The attached pictures tell their own story. The 1989 picture also shows Martyn Alderson (ex A Company, far left) whom we believe now lives abroad and Richard Goodbody (ex C Company, standing to rear). Martin Fuller (ex OC A Company ‘88-’90, not pictured) also lives abroad in UAE.
We would like to send very best wishes to 1 MERCIAN for their tour in Afghanistan – stand firm, strike hard, come home safe and remain Ever Glorious!
Major Herbert Walter James VC MC 1 CHESHIRE Welsh 1000 Team 1989
L to R: Martin Alderson, Bob Ryan, Richard F-J, Richard Goodbody, Ken Lonergan (M Fuller not pictured)
Service Sheet
A ceremony was held on Friday 2nd July in Kensal Green Cemetery, north London, to unveil a plaque to Major Herbert Walter James VC MC late The Worcestershire Regiment. Pte Alex Kennedy MC of 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment performed the unveiling, Major Prophet, Assistant Regimental Secretary The Mercian Regiment laid a wreath on behalf of The Regiment and the Service was conducted by Padre John Duncan RAChD, Chaplain to the 2nd Battalion. The occasion was organised by The Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery because, although Maj James was one of many VC holders to be cremated or buried there, he was the only VC holder to whom a memorial plaque had never been erected. The Chairman of The Friends told the story about Herbert James.
“It is never easy to write about someone who is not known to one personally but four things are apparent about Major James: that he was brave goes without saying – he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the Military Cross and he received two Mentions in Despatches. He was also determined and had
The Mercian Eagle
3. Lt James VC outside Buckingham Palace
a true sense of duty – evidenced by the fact that, despite being wounded three times, he returned to the Front. What is also noticeable is his modesty and unassuming manner: he never sought and indeed hated the limelight. However, the fact that he was essentially a private person means that we know little about the real man so what follows is essentially a brief summary touching on the salient points in his life, which, it is hoped, will serve as a tribute to him.”
Early Life
Herbert James was born on 31st October 1887. His father, Walter, was a jeweller and engraver, originally from Coventry. His mother, Emily, came from Walsall, marrying Walter in 1885. After their marriage they lived in Smethwick and had four children - Evelyn (the eldest), Herbert, Beatrice and Doris. Herbert attended Bearwood Road School in Smethwick, completing his education at the Smethwick Central School. One of his sisters later recalled:
“After he left Smethwick Central School, it was decided that my brother should enter the scholastic
profession. He became a [trainee] teacher, first at Bearwood Road School and then at Brasshouse Lane School but he never seemed to care much for teaching. He seemed to be of a roving disposition and wanted to go abroad but his father did not wish him to do so. Things went on until he said that, unless he was allowed to go abroad, he would join the Army and one day he came home and said: “I have enlisted”. The family, not surprisingly, were extremely concerned by his decision but he assured them “I shall come out all right, you need not worry”.
The Army
Herbert James joined the 21st Lancers at Canterbury in 1909 as a Trooper. He served in Egypt for three years and then in India. At the outbreak of war in August 1914, he was still in India and had risen to the rank of Lance Corporal. His potential had clearly been recognised because he was recalled to England for officer training. He was commissioned into The Worcestershire Regiment in November 1914 and, a few months later, joined the 4th Battalion which had just returned from Burma. 2Lt James
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