Private Frederick James Wells

 

 

Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.

James Frederick Wells was born in the 4^th quarter of 1888 in Dorking, Surrey to bricklayer William Wells and Ruth Wells nee Colbran.

At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at 20 Leslie Road, Dorking, Surrey. William Wells was working as a bricklayer and Ruth Wells was looking after their children: Mary Annie, Florence Ruth, Henry and James Frederick.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at Leslie Road, Dorking, Surrey. William Wells was working as a bricklayer and Ruth was looking after their children: James Frederick, Gertrude Caroline, Arthur John, Frank Edward and Marguerite Bessie.

At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 22 Leslie Road, Dorking, Surrey. William was working as a bricklayer and Ruth was looking after their children: jobbing gardener James, layer on (printer) Arthur John; Frank Edward, Marguerite Bessie and Grace Emma. Ruth Wells stated that she had given birth to 10 children of whom 8 were still alive. The accommodation had 5 rooms.

James Frederick Wells enlisted in Kingston into the ‘A’ Company, 7^th (City of London) Battalion, the London Regiment. He was a Private with regimental number 7140.

James disembarked on the 1^st of September 1916 in France.

He was mortally wounded in the field during attack on the Butte de Warlencourt on the 7^th of October 1916 in France.

His body was exhumed and reburied at the Warlencourt British Cemetery in France. His grave reference number is: I.H.20.

The inscription on the headstone, erected by his father William Wells, reads: “Peace Perfect Peace”.

At the time of his death his parents resided at 5 Pixham Lane in Dorking.

James’ father William Wells received £4 and 10d on the 5^th of March 1917 and a further £8 on the 10^th of December 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.

James Frederick Wells was awarded the British War and Victory medals.

Wells Family History

James Frederick’s mother Ruth Colbran was born in the 4^th quarter of 1860 in Rye, Sussex, to Ann Colbran, born about 1821 in Bexhill, Sussex.

James’ father William Wells was born about 1847 in Tirley, Gloucestershire to labourer William Wells Snr, born about 1816 in Worcestershire, and Mary Wells, born about 1820 in Tirley, Gloucestershire. William Wells was baptised on the 5^th of March 1847 in Tirley, Gloucestershire. At the time of the baptism, the family lived in Turley and William Wells Snr was working as a labourer.

James had nine siblings of whom eight are known: Mary Annie Wells born in the 3^rd quarter of 1882 in Hastings, Sussex; Florence Ruth Wells born in the 4^th quarter of 1886 in Dorking, Surrey; Henry Wells born about 1891 in Dorking, Surrey; Gertrude Caroline Wells born in the 4^th quarter of 1893 in Dorking, Surrey; Arthur John Wells born in the 4^th quarter of 1895 in Dorking, Surrey; Frank Edward Wells born in the 4^th quarter of 1897 in Dorking, Surrey; Marguerite Bessie Wells born in the 3^rd quarter of 1900 in Dorking, Surrey and Grace Emma born in the 2^nd quarter of 1903 in Dorking, Surrey.

Born	Dorking, Surrey
Lived	Dorking, Surrey
Son of	William Wells and Ruth Wells nee Colbran.
Regiment	7th Battalion, London Regiment
Number	7140
Former Regiment	3017 6th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
Date of Death	7th October 1916
Place of Death	Somme, France
Cause of Death	Killed in Action
Age	27
Cemetery	Warlencourt British Cemetery, France