Capt. J Sherley

[roger]

This is one of the men commemorated on Bedale war memorial. He remained elusive until I found him in Kelly's directory for N Yorkshire 1913, Where he is shown as a vet in Bedale. (Makes sense)

He was attached to 70th Brigade RFA 15th Div. Does anyone have access to a war diary or history that mentions Capt. Sherley. He died 27th November 1917 aged 51. I'm not sure if he was KIA, died of wounds or illness.

Something else is puzzling me,he is also mentioned in The London Gazette published 2nd November 1915,

Army Veterinary Corps

Temporary Lieutenant James Sherley relinquishes his commission. Dated 22nd October 1915.

Any ideas why might have relinquished his commision and next turns up in 1917 as a Captain?

Thanks,

Roger.

[hmsk212]

Hi Roger

Officers died in the Great War show him as Killed in Action as opposed to died or died of wounds.

Steve

[hmsk212]

Roger

The London Gazette shows him as becoming a Temp Captain from 28th October 1916

L Gaz 13/11/1916

AVC

To be temp Captain

James Sherley, late Temp Lieutenant 28 Oct 1916

The only real way to be sure of why he resigned his commission and then re-joined a year later in a higher rank would be to get his personal records out at Kew. He may be in file WO 339 / 25547 which is for "Sherley J. Capt & QM". However, I am not sure if the rank/appointment Captain & Quartermaster applied to the AVC or RFA so it may not be him.

Steve

[roger]

Thankyou very much for that Steve.

Either the 13/11/16 london Gazette didn't show up in my search or more likely I missed it.

If it is the same man then there can't have been that many Captain & Quartermasters in the AVC KIA (or were there?) Which perhaps would make it likely to be mentioned in the War Diary of the 70th Brigade if it still exists.

Thanks again,

roger.

[Guest tartan87terror]

Hi, Roger, Thank you for your posting.

By reading it I discovered that "A. V. C." referred to in my grandfather's diary means Army Veterinary Corps.

He was a blacksmith with the R. F. A. in Salonika, so that makes sense.

thanks a lot.

David.

[roger]

Glad to be of some help david

Roger.

[gord97138]

Roger:

From the CWGC:

gordon

Casualty Details

Name: SHERLEY

Initials: J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Captain

Regiment: Army Veterinary Corps

Secondary Regiment: Royal Field Artillery

Secondary Unit Text: attd. 70th Bde.

Age: 51

Date of Death: 27/11/1917

Additional information: Son of the late William Rolfe Sherley and Rebecca Sherley of Twickenham; husband of Jessie Sherley of 39 Zetland Street, Southport, Lancs.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. D. 13.

Cemetery: GOUZEAUCOURT NEW BRITISH CEMETERY

[gord97138]

I did some research on James Sherley on the 1901 and 1891 census and found this-

he was listed as a Veterinary Surgeon on both-as was his father William in 1891.

gordon

1901 Census:

Name Age in 1901 Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County/

Gladys Sherley 9 Twickenham, Middlesex, England Daughter Twickenham Middlesex

James Sherley 34 Twickenham, Middlesex, England Head Twickenham Middlesex

Jessie Sherley 34 Cuddington, Cheshire, England Wife Twickenham Middlesex

Rebecca Sherley 77 Twickenham, Middlesex, England Mother Twickenham Middlesex

William Sherley 5 Cuddington, Cheshire, England Son Twickenham Middlesex

1891 Census:

Sherley, James 25 Twickenham, Middlesex Head Twickenham Middlesex

Sherley, Jessie 27 Adlington, Cheshire Wife Twickenham Middlesex

Sherley, Lucie 26 Twickenham, Middlesex Daughter Twickenham Middlesex

Sherley, Mary 28 Twickenham, Middlesex Daughter Twickenham Middlesex

Sherley, Rebecca 62 Finsbury, Kent Wife Twickenham Middlesex

Sherley, William 65 Staines, Middlesex Head Twickenham Middlesex

[roger]

Thanks Gordon, from this information it is safe to say James Sherley moved to Bedale to set up, or take over a veterinary practice sometime between 1901 and 1913.

Roger.