¹Drummer James Edward Trayford
Yorkshire Regiment – 242640
James Edward Trafford was one of six children born to George and Mary Ann Trayford on the 4th October 1897, and was baptised in St Mary’s Church, Woodnewton on the 7 th November 1897. He attended Woodnewton School and left on 2nd August 1912. His occupation is listed on Military papers as ‘Capenter/Wheelwright’, and it could be assumed that he worked for Messrs Barfield who were Wheelwrights in Woodnewton.
On 16th September 1916, he attested for 2nd/5th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment. It wasn’t until 1918 that he was posted into the Theatre of War in Flanders, France. He served with several other Battalions whilst in the Yorkshire Regiment and had several periods of ilnesses and hospitalisation.
He was demobbed on 12th September 1919, and on 3rd October of the same year, he was transferred to Class Z (Army Reserves). For his service in the War, James was awarded the Victory and the British Medal
The 1901 and 1911 Censuses show that the Trayford family were living at one of the cottages in Church Row. In Military records it shows that James was furloughed between the 13th and 22nd February 1919, and his address was given as 1 New Cottages, Woodnewton, which means the family had moved into the new houses that were built during his absence, now known as St Mary’s Hill.
In the 1920 Electoral Roll he was back in Woodnewton and in 1929 he married Alice Ivy Barley. In the 1921 Census he is listed as a bike mechanic working for a Mr Donegann of Oundle. On 8th December 1932, there is evidence of James and Alice coming back from Montreal, Canada aboard the SS Duchess, but there is no record of their outward journey. There is also no records of them having children.
James lived at 41 Gordon Street, Oundle and died in 1979. He was cremated at Kettering.
2022