James Feltham, Royal Anglesey Royal Engineers

The 2nd Siege Company was composed mainly of men from Holyhead, most of these being craftsmen and workers, such as fitters, boilermakers, carpenters and other skilled trades. Many of the men were previously employed at the workshops of the Locomotive Department and workshops of the dry dock for the cross channel steam packets of the Marine Department of the London & North Western Railway Company, Ltd.

He enlisted at Holyhead on 3 September 1914 and may also have served in the 2nd Signal Company, Royal Engineers. Arrived in France on 14 December 1914. In early September 1915 the unit was located near Zillebeke, Belgium and close to Sanctury Wood, south-east of Ypres. They did much of the work to construct and repair damaged trenches and dugouts. Many times they worked in atrocious and tiring conditions, usually at night, often in wet weather and in thick mud. They were constantly exposed to both enemy and sometimes their own artillery fire. An entry in a personal war diary covering the day Sapper Feltham died described events as "Tuesday, 7 September - Repairing another section of trenches (HQ), torn about by shellfire. J. Feltham (Sec.1) killed, shell splinters". Died at No. 9 Casualty Clearing Station.

Born at Holyhead on 9 July 1896, the son of James and Elizabeth Feltham (nee Willliams), of Holyhead, Anglesey. In 1901 he lived with his parents, brother and two sisters at 10 Trearddur Square, Holyhead. Also lived at 11 Trearddur Square, Holyhead (this address shown on MIC). He was educated at Cybi School, Holyhead and was later employed as a Deck Boy on the local LNWR ship, SS Scotia. Sapper Feltham also had a brother, Harry, who served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and also a sister, Elizabeth, who served in France as a member of the Womens Auxiliary Army Corps. His father was employed as a Caretaker at the nearby Marketplace building. He was also a retired soldier (ex. Colour Sargent, 6th Battalion, RWF), who in 1918 was serving in the Home Defence Corps. He assisted in the recruitment of many local men into the Army. His signature as witness can be seen on many surviving Enlistment Forms.

Awarded the 1915 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.

Buried in the Lijssethoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. Grave location III.B.33.

Sapper Feltham's Medals, Memorial Plaque, photographs and other memorabilia, including information on the Royal Anglesey, Royal Engineers, are available for view at Holyhead Maritime Museum.Thanks to Aled L Jones for the grave photograph. I am also grateful to the assistance and information provided by Sapper Feltham's nephew, Rupert Lewis. - BRH