Little is known about this man. His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album obviously dates him as a patient at Beechlands (although it is conceivable that he could have transferred from Hickwells). His entry, written underneath a cartoon illustration reads:
Pte J Andrew
(4 Res) Northants Regt
Rose Ward
Beechlands
Newick
Sussex
The 4th (Reserve) Northamptonshire
Regiment was formed on 8th April
1916 out of the 3/4th Northamptonshire Regiment which had been
formed at Northampton in May 1915. This would suggest that Private
Andrew probably enlisted, or volunteered for overseas’ service some time after 27th November 1915 (which was when the 2/4th Battalion was formed).
He is possibly 2791 Corporal James
W Andrew (as recorded on the National Archives’ medal information card) and if this is the same man he transferred (presumably
after recovering from whatever sickness had put him into Beechland House) to the Gloucestershire Regiment. The National Archives gives two numbers for him with the Gloucestershire Regiment: 5905 and 242112. The latter number was within the block of numbers allocated to the 1/4th Gloucesters
when the Territorials were re-numbered in 1917.
The 1901 census of England and Wales reveals a James W Andrew living at Church Street, Broughton,
Northamptonshire with his family. The household comprised: George Andrew (head,
married, aged 35, working as a foreman in the boot trade), his wife Sarah A Andrew (aged 35) and their children: Lucy E Andrew
(aged nine), Lily G W Andrew (aged eight), George Andrew (aged six) and James (aged five).
There is also a 20 year old boarder – Wallace Smith – living at the house.
His trade is noted as “shoe finisher”. James’ place
of birth is given as Broughton.
Nothing further is known about
this man.
Sources and Acknowledgements
· The National Archives: Medal Index Card reference:
WO 372/1
· 1901 Census of England and Wales
· The Long, Long Trail
