THE short life of James Seymour as read by Harlow councillor Shannon Jezzard.

This project was sponsored by the Harlow Council Development Fund and HTS Ltd.

Never Forget.

James Henry Seymour

James’ parents were John Seymour who was born in Epping in c.1860 and Rosa Brace who was born in Great Parndon in c.1860. They married in early 18811 and James Henry Seymour was born in 18872.

The 1891 census shows James residing in Great Parndon with his parents and siblings Alice, John and Arthur. John Snr. was working as a farm labourer. The family continued to live in Great Parndon and at the time of the 1911 census they were living at Kingsmoor Cottages. John and Rosa had six children, the five youngest were living at home. John was a ‘horseman, farm labourer’. Their children were Alice, James, Arthur, Fred, Albert and Ernest. James was listed as a contractors carman. James married Emma Mary Burton, who lived in Hare Street, in 19143.

Private James Seymour, 33078, enlisted in Harlow and joined The Essex Regiment. He subsequently joined The 11th Battalion of The Border Regiment.

The British line between St Georges, Ramskapelle and the sea at Nieuwpoort withstood the onslaught of the major German attack of 10 July 1917. They suffered very heavy losses. James was one of those losses on the first day of the attack, killed in action on 10 July 1917. He is buried in the Ramskapelle St George’s Road Military Cemetery, Belgium. Plot 5, row a, grave 11. Register index number Bel.173.

James’ widow Emma remarried in 19204 to Francis English and died in 1967 aged 805.