First World War in Headington & Marston
Roll of Honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield

James Frederick DURHAM (1896–1916)

Some of this information is repeated under the next entry for James’s brother John William Durham

James Frederick Durham (whose first two names were at some point switched from Frederick James) was born in Headington in 1896, the son of George Edward Durham (born in Headington in 1866 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 4 December 1866) and Polly Escott, otherwise known as Mary (born in Melksham, Wiltshire in about 1862). Polly was working as a housekeeper at 5 Norham Road when she met James’s father, who was then a general labourer.

James’s parents were married at New Road Baptist Chapel on 3 August 1891, and had eight children, of whom the following were still alive in 1911:

• John William Durham (born in Headington on 2 April 1894)
• Ernest George Durham (born in Headington in 1895, registered second quarter)
• (Frederick) James Durham (born in Headington in 1896, birth registered third quarter)
• Ebenezer William Durham (born in Headington on 12 September 1900; later took Escott as a second middle name)
• Amy Ella Sophia Durham (born in Headington in 1901, registered fourth quarter).

The 1901 census shows the family living in Lime Walk with John (6), Ernest (5), James (4), and Ebenezer (6 months). James’s father was working as a bricklayer’s labourer.

By 1911 the family were living at 31 Holyoake Road (whose address was then 16 Western Road; the west side of this road was in Highfield parish). James’s father (45) was now a builder’s merchant’s porter. James’s two older brothers were at work: John (17) was a tobacconist’s porter and Ernest (15) was a grocer’s porter. Ebenezer (10) and Amy (9) were at school. James himself (14) had probably just left school and was described as having “no employment”. By 1916, he was employed as a printer, and was a member of the Sons of Temperance and connected with Headington Baptist Church.

James’s mother Mary (Polly) Durham died at the age of 50 in 1914 (first quarter, Headington Registration District), and so was spared from seeing all four of her sons serve, and two die, in the first world war.

In the First World War James Durham had volunteered along with his two older brothers by March 1915 and served as a Private in the 2nd/4th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 4250). He was killed in France at the age of 22 on 11 November 1916 when a grenade struck him while he was asleep.

He is buried in the Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery at La Gorgue, and is listed on the Roll of Honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield.

The eldest three Durham brothers serving in 1915: John, Ernest, and James

Two of the Durham brothers survived the war. Ernest George Durham, who had been working a baker, enlisted as a volunteer in the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 21 September 1914. He served in Greece, and was discharged as invalided on 9 February 1917. Ebenezer William Escott Durham, who had been working as a porter, joined the navy as a ship’s cook on 17 September 1918, just after his 18th birthday. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals while serving on the Calypso.

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Postscript

James’s father

• George Edward Durham is listed at 36 Stapleton Road (“Charlbury Cottage”, formerly numbered 14) from 1926 to 1936. He died at the age of 71 (death registered first quarter of 1937 in the Oxford District). In his will of 5 February 1937 he left his estate to his daughter, Amy Sophia Ella Durham, who had probably looked after him following the death of his wife.

James’s siblings

• John William Durham (born 1894) was also killed in the First World War: see separate page
• Ebenezer William Escott Durham (born 1900) remained in the Royal Navy after the war. He passed educationally for Petty Officer on 6 March 1923, and for Leading Cook on 30 April 1925. He re-engaged in the Navy on 25 January 1929. On 17 November 1933 he was awarded the RN Long Service and Good Conduct Medal while serving on the Pembroke. He married Olive Daisy A. Stevens in 1926 in the Weymouth registration district. Their son Kenneth W. Durham was born in 1930 (registered Weymouth district). They were living at 11 Turton Street, Weymouth at the time of their deaths (Olive on 10 December 1973, and Ebenezer on 24 February 1981).