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James Harold Vincent Iceton (1884-1917)


Darlington man went from making shells to firing them with the Canadian Army


James Walker Iceton was a plumber from Shildon who married Theresa Mary Robinson of Darlington in 1880. Their first child Dorothy Catherine was born in 1882, followed by James Harold on 24th January 1884, Eveline Margaret in 1886, Herbert Paul in 1888 and in 1890 John Walker; when the census was taken the following year they were living in St. John’s parish at 12 Albert Street, Darlington. Ten years later on census day in 1901 parents James and Theresa were at his widowed mother’s house at 8B Chancery Lane, Darlington with their 1 year old daughter Theresa; Dorothy and Eveline were both in service in Lancashire and James, [Herbert] Paul and John were listed as visitors at 10 Union Place, Darlington with their paternal Uncle Thomas, his wife and son.

In April 1912, James Harold immigrated to Canada. In July Hubert and John arrived in Quebec followed in September by Dorothy and Evelyn who arrived in Quebec. In January 1913 James and Theresa sailed from Liverpool to St John’s New Brunswick with young William and young Theresa on the Empress of Ireland heading for Toronto and a new life in Canada. One year later, James Harold is listed as crossing the US border at Niagara Falls on his way to his cousin Mary Galloway in Ohio to seek employment. He did not find work but in 1915 he was back in Canada and enlisting in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Toronto on 31st December 1915 giving as his next of kin his mother Theresa and their shared address as 208 Bellwoods Avenue, Toronto, and his occupation that of a machine foreman at the Massey Harris shell factory. His brother John William enlisted the following year on the same day of 31st December 1915.

Private 769402 Iceton was posted to the 18th Battalion, which sailed for England in August 1916 and then onwards to France in October where the Battalion fought as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division. On 19th April 1917, “taking part in the attack at Vimy Ridge he was wounded in the head and left side by enemy machine gun bullets. After receiving first aid and attention he was taken to No.30 Casualty Clearing Station where he died from the effects of his wounds” (description taken from the War Graves Register). According to his obituary in the Toronto Star his parents received a letter from him the day after his death.

James Harold Vincent Iceton is buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery , nine miles north west of Arras.

War time letters have been transcribed and compiled by the family and can be found here:
https://wartimecanada.ca/sites/default/files/documents/The%20Iceton%20Brothers.pdf

Civil Parish: Darlington

Birth date: 24-Jan-1884

Death date: 19-Apr-1917

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 12 Albert Street, Darlington (1891 census)
8B Chancery Lane, Darlington (1901 census)
208 Bellwoods Avenue, Toronto, Canada (1915, Candian Service Record)

Military service:

31 Dec 1915 enlisted
Private 769402
18th Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division

Memorial(s): Aubigny Communal Cemetery, France

Gender: Male

Contributed by Jayell, Durham

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