2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

Pte. ROBERT (Bobby) JAMES
Army Service No. 5336755

Portfolio

Regiment:
2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire.

Commander:
Captain J.E. Gabain

Killed In Action:
Private Robert James, Bobby to his family and friends died of wounds on the 8 April 1945

A letter was sent to the relatives of Pte. James from Cpt. J.E. Gabain, which reads.....

Dear Mrs. James.
..........I am very sorry to have to confirm that your son No. 5336755 Pte James .R. died of wounds on 8 April.

..........From your letter of 29 April I was very sorry to learn that someone from this Battalion had written to you about your son’s death. It is strictly not allowed to write to families until after the official notification has reached them from the War Office in order to avoid the worries which have just been caused to you. I am sure that you have now received the official notification from the War Office about your son.

..........Please allow me to convey to you & your husband my very sincere sympathy for the tragic loss of your son.

I remember the circumstances well in his connection. We had been shelled in our positions the previous day and your son was out collecting wood in a village nearby for head cover for his slit trench. The enemy started shelling us again and he was most unfortunately caught out in the open. He received shrapnel injuries in his leg. He was evacuated with the utmost rapidity to the A.D.S. in a jeep ambulance, but unfortunately he died that same evening. The Medical Officer at the A.D.S. told me next day that he had died from shock & loss of blood, but was not in any pain.

..........May I send my congratulations to all you gallant families at home who have just finished the war in Europe, and add that although our little war is not quite over, your son died gallantly doing his duty in this far away theatre.

...I am your obedient servant
.......... Yours sincerely
.......... J E Gabain
.......... .......... Capt.
...........................O.C. H.Q. Company
...........................2nd Bn. The Royal
....................................Berkshire Regt.

Submitted by:
Paul Simons, nephew of Pte Robert James on behalf of his family - "We would be extremely honoured and proud if his picture and details could be put on the website, he does I think deserve to be there with his mates. He was 24 when he was killed."

 

 

 

Pte. Robert James
Pte. Robert James

 

Letter
Letter from
Cpt. J.E. Gabain

 

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