IN THE week leading up to the 75th anniversary of VE Day, we are publishing the short biographies of the thirty-three men who died in World War Two.

Below are details of the life and death of James William Blumson. There is something particularly poignant about a man who left Harlow and ended up dying on the notorious Burma railway.

There is also something modern when you see that his widow, Nancy, ever married again and died in Harlow in 2003.

We wonder what happened to their children, Gerald and Gillian?

Rest in peace, James William Blumson.

THE villages of Harlow, Potter Street, Netteswell and Great Parndon saw brave servicemen fight for their country and lose their lives.

Thirty three men from Harlow lost their lives. The youngest was aged just 17 and the eldest, a Home Guardsman aged 63.

From the death of Ordinary Seaman George Victor Covell on June 9th 1940 to Gunner Frederick John Farley on August 30th, 1945, we will publish the biography of each man.

Here are the stories of the 32.

James William Blumson

Click below to enlarge

Information from Harlow Council document “Remembering those who sacrificed their lives for us”