James Enoch Shingler, Age 38

12543, Private, 1st Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry

K.S.L.I Regiment Cap Badge.

James had been born and brought up in Dawley, but had moved away and was living in Westbury, Shropshire at the time of his enlistment, his father Richard was living at 7 Newhouse Lane, Albrighton, (Nr Wolverhampton) Shropshire.

James was serving with his battalion (Landed in France on 25/3/15) in trenches at Morteldje estaminet in the Ypres salient when on April 19th 1916 after an intense bombardment the Germans launched an infantry assault which succeeded in capturing a portion of the trench.

The KSLI were ordered to recapture the trench and with this in mind B & C companies moved up to join A & C companies east of a canal bank. On the 21st April the counter attack was planned to be launched at 10 pm with B Company on the right, ‘A’ company in the centre and half of C Company on the left, the other half of C Company along with D company were in reserve. Owing to the dreadful conditions, Knee deep mud, rain and the darkness of the night the attack that was meant to be launched simultaneously was delayed, B company went over the top at 10.45 pm and reached the enemy trench which was found to be unoccupied, however they reach machinegun and rifle fire from the left, A bombing party went to clear out these Germans but were unable to make contact with ‘A’ company who had not yet advanced, at 2 am ‘A’ company went forward in knee deep mud and despite strong opposition managed to link up with B company.

Meanwhile C Company had at first lost touch but reforming had gone forward again and took their objectives without much opposition. At daybreak of the 22nd the German’s counter attacked but were beaten off and the battalion were left in possession of the recaptured trench, only to then come under a heavy barrage from the German artillery in retaliation later in the morning.

Conditions had been that bad during the attack by the KSLI that some men could only get forward by crawling across the top of the mud and some wounded were found to have been suffocated in the mud.

James was wounded sometime during these actions that took place between April 19th - 22nd suffering gunshot wounds to his head and chest and from these injuries he died in No.17 CCS just behind the Ypres salient on April 23rd 1916. James body lies in the Lijssenthoek military cemetery in grave VI.D.5

The war dairy of No.17 CCS which halfway down the page mentions the death at 5.25am of 12543 J.Single 1st KSLI from wounds to the head and chest and underneath the statement “Very fine Soldier”.

Extra info:
There is some confusion about James’s age the Commonwealth War Graves have it as 42 but he’s Birth Registration was in December 1877 and the census also as it as 1877/8 so his age would be 38 in April 1916.

James first signs his Attestation for the militia (army reserve) on the 12th January 1905 at Shrewsbury, number 4990 3rd Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, and again signed up as an Army Special Reservist for 6 years’ service on the 9th January 1909 at Wrexham, 3957, 3rd Battalion, (S.R.) Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Head Stone at Lijssenthoek military cemetery grave VI.D.5

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Commonwealth War Graves
Buried Lijssenthoek military cemetery

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Victory Medal	British War Medal	1914-15 Star Medal