James Fish

Age 21        Single

Private 241279
1^st/5^th Bn., East Lancashire Regiment

died of Pneumonia on
Saturday 12^th January 1918

James, the eldest of seven children, was born in Sabden and, after attending the Sabden Council School, he began work for Messrs Steiner and Co Printworks, Sabden. 

At the outbreak of the war James’s father Robert, had enlisted in to the East Lancashire Regt. (Padiham Pals) and was serving in Egypt.  In February 1915, he was joined by James who had enlisted into the same regiment.  Early in 1916 the regiment was sent to France, shortly afterwards James’s father was transferred to the Labour Company. 

In November 1916, James, in a letter from his uncle who lived in Darwen, Lancashire learnt the news that his father had been taken as a prisoner of war, and his mother had passed away, his six brothers and sisters were in his uncle's care in Darwen.  James sent most of his pay home for the upkeep of his brothers and sisters. 

Whilst serving in the trenches around Arras, France, James contracted pneumonia and was taken to a casualty clearing station where he passed away. 

James Fish is buried at the Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. 

In Sabden he has been remembered on both the School and Church Plaques.