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| 1881 census |
In the 1881 census James is aged 5 living at Coombewalter Farm with the Venning family, with his mother and sister, sadly he father has already passed away. I haven't found a connection between Grace and the Venning family as yet, but James is listed as nephew.
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| 1891 census |
In the 1891 census James is aged 15, working as a errand boy,
living as in 1881 with his mother at CoombeWalter Farm.
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| 1901 census |
In the 1901 census James is aged 25 working as a gardener, now living at Chalterborough Farm, Abbotsham, with his mother and HenryVenning.
James is noted in the North Devon Journal newspaper as gardener for the Reverend R.W. Sealey, for his entry for six white potatoes dated 2nd November 1905 (page 8).
Also again in the North Devon Journal for Red Celery on the 7th November 1907 (page 8)
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| 1911 census |
In the 1911 census James is aged 35, living at Chlaterborough as the head of the household
with his family and mother. His occupation is given as gardener.
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| James Churchill - close up face crop |
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| James Churchill |
James joined the army for the first world war
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| Army service record - page 1 |
Information from page 1
James enlisted into the army on 9th December 1915, aged 40 years and 1 month.
He was living at Chalterborough, working as a gardener
He was enlisted into the Royal garrison artillary
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| Army service record - page 2 |
Information from page 2
James is described as 5 feet and 10 1/2 inches tall.
Girth is 37 1/2 inches, with a 2 inch expansion.
Bertha Churchill his wife,is given as next of kin.
His five children are listed, with all of their dates of birth,crossed out and changed
William James 7/06/1905
Violet Annie 9/05/1906
Frederick Henry 21/07/1907
Margaret Elsie 5/08/1914
Winifred May 28/4/1916
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| Army service record - page 3 |
Information from sheet 3
Hard to read as faint
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| Army service record - page 4 |
Information from page 4
12/11/1917 send effects to Bertha (his wife) at Chalterborough
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| Army service record - page 5 |
Information from page 5
General service - attested 9 dec 1916
General service - mobilized 12 july 1917
Posted - 12 July 1917
Siege reinforcing depot 9.11.16
dead Eastbourne 5.8.17
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| Army service record - page 6 |
Information from page 6
From the ministry of pensions confirming payment
to the widow and 5 children of 99366 gun J. Churchill
payment of 21 pounds 3 shillings a week from the 10th September 1917
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| Army service record - page 7 |
Information from page 7
Names the relatives of James Churchill that are living
Widow - Bertha Churchill of Chalterborough
Children of soldier-
1.William James
2.Violet Annie
3.Frederick Henry
4.Margaret Elsie
5.Winifred May
Father - dead
Mother - Grace Churchill
Brothers - none
Sisters - Annie Glover
Grandparents - none
Nephews and Nieces - Molly Glover of Abbotsham
Uncles and Aunts -
John Dunn of Redwood
Dorcas Ann Jennings (nee Dunn) of Bradworthy
Signed by Bertha on 16th April 1919
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| Army service record - page 8 |
Information from page 8
similar to page 5
on bottom of page gives total service from enlistment to death as 238 days
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| Army service record - page 9 |
Information from page 9
Letter addressed to Bertha Churchill
to find James living relatives
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| Army record - page 10 |
Information from page 10
Letter giving date of death as 5th March 1917
James Churchill died of spinal fever.
Definition.—An acute, infectious, although but slightly contagious disease, occurring sporadically, endemically, and epidemically, and characterized, anatomically, by hyperemia of the brain and spinal cord, and sometimes attended by a petechial eruption. Clinically, by excruciating pains in the head, back, and limbs, hyperesthesia often followed by anesthesia, contraction of the muscles of the nucha, and delirium of a varied character.
James Churchill is listed on a wooden memorial inside of Abbotsham church
and on a large stone memorial just outside the church.
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| Wooden memorial inside Abbotsham Church |
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| War memorial outside Abbotsham Church |
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| J. Churchill on War memorial |
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| James Churchill's headstone |
Photograph taken from www.findagrave.com
at Ocklynge cemetery, Eastbourne plot z .544
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