Name

James Purvis.

Description

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Certificate relating to Private James Purvis.

Life Story

Name: James Purvis.

Service Number: 12500.

Rank: Private.

Battalion: 6th Battalion.

Regiment: Royal Irish Fusiliers.

Born: 9th September 1885, Shankill, Belfast.

Died: 9th August 1915.

Address: 64 Wilton Street, Belfast

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James, son of James and Rachel Purvis, lived at 64 Wilton Street, Shankill, Belfast.

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James joined the Royal Irish Fusiliers.

He was posted as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the 7th August 1915.

James was a Private in B Company, 6th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers was Killed In Action on the 9th August 1915 aged 29 years

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A local newspaper states

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Private James Purvis(12500), 6th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, who was officially reported wounded on the 7th August at the Dardanelles, has not been heard of since. Inquiries at the Record Office have failed to elicit any further information. His mother, who has another son in the Royal Field Artillery, resides at 3 Midland Street, Belfast.

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James Soldiers Effects were left to his mother.

His Will, signed and dated the 25th April 1915 left his property and money to his mother. There was also a letter within and now uploaded to read, and although I have deciphered it as best as possible, and the actual word The, in certain parts should have been wrote as They, there may well be more discrepancies within. His mothers address at this time is 3 Midland Street, Off Wilton Street, Belfast too.

His Pension Application Form shows his mother as claimant.

Dependant Pension Application Forms show James mother as claimant also.

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James received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1915 Star.

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He is Remembered at Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.

To Remember Is To Honour

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Page 1.

Dear mother, Just a few lines to let you know that I got your letter and post card also the stamps and cigarettes for which I am greatly obliged. I am very sorry to see that you are left the house as it was very handy for you, the rent was not to heavy but I hope you will all try to look after yourselves and tell George to look after his work for if he was here he would have to do a bit more for far less money. Dear mother the Lord Lieutenant inspected all the troops that are leaving here in Phoenix Park on Saturday morning, it was a great sight to see so many men together, he bid us all good bye and wished us good luck, if that counts for anything. Dear mother we have got everything ready, we got our field bandages sowed into our coats and we have got our small book and the

Page 2.

little disks for going round your neck, it is about the size of a penny with your Name and Number and what regiment you belong to printed on it, and in the small Book there is a place for making your will, so I am making mine out for to leave to you so you can divide it the way you think fit if anything happens to me you would have all the money, and clothing that belongs to me, the would auction it for you to not counting what the Government allows you. Pat Malone forgot that he was dead, tell the old man that if I had the money I could have sent him a good pair of Ammunition Boots and 2 or 3 shirts and drawers, I will have to throw them away socks towels and everything as we can not carry them with us so the will all be burned, you should see the women up.,

Page 3.

here, the will miss the Fusiliers when we go for it is them that feeds and clothes them, there was one woman carried out 40 shirts almost new on Friday and the we fellows with full tins of tin meat under each arm. Oh if Hugh was only here he could carry more than my kit. Dear mother we are leaving on Tuesday, the are confined to Barracks since Friday, you see the crowds outside the gates, but if I get out of cells tomorrow and hear any word I will let you know at once, you know the whole Brigade is going so it will take them about a week of shifting , some went on Saturday the field ambulance in advance, that will.,

Page 4.

be about 5 thousand men so it will take them to the end of the week, I might send my Badges home for you to keep for me tomorrow, the are all sending them home for the are n0t allowed for to wear them, you can answer this when you get it if you like and I will get it before I go and I will let you know if you are to send the money this week for the last and I will drink your health, it is a pity you could not have sent it u[p for Tuesday as I could have had a drink before we leave dirty Dublin, I think this is all at present from your Loving Son Pte James Purvis 12500 B Company 6th Service Batt Royal Irish Fusiliers, Potable Barrack, Dublin.

Tell the Old man George and Annie Bill and the children I was asking for them and try and write soon.