James West was born at 8 Spring Street, Hollingworth on July 9th,1899; his parents were James and Emma Jane West, and James was the youngest of three children. James went to school in Hollingworth an attended St Mary’s and then Cannon Street Sunday Schools. He was a bugler in the boys’ brigade. By 1911 the family had moved to 51 Market Street, Hollingworth. Later, James worked in the cardroom at Mersey Mills.

James enlisted on August 4th, 1917 at Chester, and went to France on April 1st, 1918. Private West was killed in action on September 29th, 1918, aged 19. He is buried at Zandvoorde British Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Grave I D 25, and remembered on Hollingworth War Memorial.

Sue Featherston