DAWS, James (Dawes)

James Dawes came from Brierley Hill and was living in Netherton when he volunteered for the South Staffordshire Territorials. He served in the 1/5th Battalion in the 46th Division. They went to the Western Front in March 1915 and had a very harsh first experience of battle at Loos in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on the 13th October. A short period in Egypt was followed by return in early 1916 to the front line near Vimy ridge. Heavy shelling was experienced and this was probably responsible for the death of Private James Dawes on the 3rd April. He is buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery (I B 13) at Mont St. Eloi and is commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.