James Arthur Heald (1899-1920)
Sheffield man who served with 1st DLI accidentally killed buried in Cologne
James Arthur Heald, the son of Henry and Margaret Heald, was born in Sheffield at the end of 1899 and had five brothers and a sister. He lived all his life in Sheffield until he was called up for service and joined the 4th (Reserve) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment on 3 January 1918.
On 13 April 1918 he was transferred to the 2/7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, based in Colchester, Essex and on 12 August landed in France where he was transferred to the 15th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. At the end of August he was moved up to the front and he was wounded on 23 October. He was sent back to hospital in England but returned to France on 16 November. In March 1919 he re-enlisted at Bougainville for a further two years and was sent to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station in the prisoner of war (POW) camp at Dellbrück. He was taking instruction in the Sergeant’s room in the camp on 17 April 1920 when he was accidentally shot by one of the sergeants. He was mortally wounded and is buried in the Cologne Southern Cemetery.
Birth date: 1899
Death date: 17-Apr-1920
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 18 Crown Alley, Sheffield Park, Sheffield, Yorkshire (1901 census)
12 ct., 4 House Bard Street, Sheffield, Yorkshire (1911 census)
1 East Street, Sheffield Park, Sheffield, Yorkshire (British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920)
Religion: Church of England
Family: Father: Henry Heald
Mother: Margaret Heald (nee Varey)
Siblings: William, Henry, Sarah Ann, Richard, George & Fred Heald
Wife: Florence Emily Heald (nee Kay)
Military service:
4th (Reserve) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
Service No.: 35786
Private
2/7th & 15th Battalions, Durham Light Infantry
Service No.: 82799
Private
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Cologne Southern Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Grave Ref.: VI.D.8
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards
