James Longden
Memorial: Thornbury - St Mary's Church
Regiment: Gloucestershire Regiment
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Private 33046
Parents: George and Mary Anne Longden
Marital status: Single
Home address: Holly Tree Cottage, Grovesend, Thornbury, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: Butcher’s Assistant
Date of birth: 1884
Place of birth: Thornbury, Bristol
Date of death: 25/04/1918
Buried/Commemorated at: Ploegsteert Memorial
Age: 33
Further information:
Bronze Tablet and Wooden Memorial Board
James Longden was born in the last quarter of 1884, the eldest son of George Longden, a stonemason who lived at Grovesend, and his wife, Mary Anne, known as Polly. He had at least two sisters and three brothers
His mother died in 1895 shortly after giving birth to his brother, William. The 1901 census shows George Longden, with his three youngest sons boarding with Mrs Mary Jane Riddle at the Hackett. Luke Riddle was in the Thornbury Union Workhouse. Luke Riddle died in 1902 and in 1904 Mary Jane married George Longden. The 1911 Census shows the family living at Grovesend. James gained many Riddle stepsisters, a stepbrother and a younger half brother and sister. At the time of this census, James was living with his older cousin Henry Caines, the publican at the George and Dragon Inn, Castle Street, Bristol. He was employed as a butcher’s assistant
James enlisted in the 12th Battalion (Bristol’s Own), Glosters. His surname was given as Longden, Langdon or Langden in various records. This Battalion fought in the Somme Offensive of 1916 and in a number of actions during the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Passchendaele, in 1917
From late December 1917 to March 1918 the Division was in Italy but was hastily called back to France and Flanders in April 1918 to support the British line, following the start of the German Spring Offensive. 12th Glosters took part in the desperate fighting to stop the German breakthrough in the Lys sector. During the Battle of Hazebrouck, on the 12th to 15th April, it fought in the Defence of Nieppe Forest. There were many raids and counter attacks. On the edge of the forest, the 12th Glosters held the British Front Line from 22nd April 1918 opposite a farm called Le Vertbois, while, further along the line, 1st Bedfords were near another farm south east of the ruined Les Lauriers Chateau. Both farms were attacked by British troops on the evening of 25th/26th April. When the officers of 12th Glosters became casualties, their Company Serjeant Major Pine took over and led his men successfully consolidating the captured ground. The Battalion took Vertbois, from then on known as Gloucester Farm, with about 39 prisoners. At least one officer and 31 other ranks died as a result of this action. The other farm was also successfully captured and became known as Bedford Farm
James Longden was most likely Killed in Action during the capture of Gloucester Farm and has no known grave. He is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the missing
In October 1918 James’ youngest brother William Longden and his stepbrother, William G. C. Riddle, were Killed in Action on the same day during the same attack at Villers Outreaux. All three are named on the Thornbury Memorial
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Thornbury Roots Website. Thornbury and District Museum Research Group