Person

Isaac Jamfrey was born in Bearpark, but by the age of three, he lived in Chester-le-Street with his older brothers, John, Thomas and Frederick, his sister, Edith, and their parents, William and Isabella. In early 1908, his father died and his two oldest brothers became the family breadwinners.

On 1st October 1914, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI); just two weeks after his brother Frederick had enlisted in the same regiment.

They both volunteered to serve overseas and landed in France with 8th DLI, Frederick on 19 April 1915 and Isaac on 20 April 1915.

Two days after they arrived in France, the Second Battle of Ypres began and 8th DLI was rushed to the front and found themselves in the thick of the fighting around Boetleer’s Farm on Gravenstafel Ridge. The farm was bombarded by German artillery and Isaac was wounded in the right leg by shrapnel. Corporal Frank Affleck witnessed him being wounded:

“About 25 men, mostly from Birtley, were in a trench together, and after being there about seven hours, they were so badly gassed they had to leave it. They got out of the trench safely and were going towards a hedge, when a single shell came over and wounded every man, not one escaping. Private I Jamfrey of Chester-le-Street happened to be amongst them, and he too was wounded.

The stretcher-bearers appeared, and carried the men into the corner of a field, but the Germans immediately began to shell this part”.

Private Jamfrey and two others were then carried to a farm building by Private John Cruthers.

The troops defending the area around Boetleer’s Farm were outnumbered, overwhelmed and forced to retreat, leaving the wounded, including Private Isaac Jamfrey, to the mercy of the Germans. He was not discovered by them until two days later, when he and the others were forced out of the building and badly treated. The first man out was clubbed with the butt of a rifle and Isaac was stabbed with a bayonet in his good leg.

He was taken to a farmhouse where he was treated kindly and his wounds were dressed. He was then transported by train to Meschede where his right leg was amputated above the knee. On 9 September 1915 he was moved to Giessen and then repatriated to England.

Prisoner of war report, The National Archives (WO 161/98/11):
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9210468

Civil Parish: Bearpark

Birth date: 1897

Death date: 1960

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 5 West View, Chester-Le-Street (1901 census)
20 South View, Chester-Le-Street (1911 census)

Family: Parents: William Jamfrey, Isabella Jamfrey,
Siblings: John Jamfrey, Thomas Jamfrey, Frederick Jamfrey, Edith Jamfrey

Military service:

Service number 3045
Private
8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry

Gender: Male

Contributed by BFB, Sunderland