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26/09/1884 - 23/08/1918

Place of birth: Pontypridd, Glamorgan
Last known address in Bromley: 76 Scotts Lane

Military information

Regiment/Service: Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Battalion/Ship: 5th Bn
Rank: Lieutenant
Number: Unknown

Family information

Parents: Arthur Stanley & Margaret Ritchie Cobb (nee Cassels)
Parents' occupation: Bank manager
Siblings: Margaret Gwendoline, Herbert Stanley, Millicent Jessie, Arthur Kennedy, Robert Stanley, Charles Eric

Census information

1891
Address: London & P Bank, Pontypridd
1901
Address: London & P Bank, Pontypridd
1911
Address: Romney, Scotts Lane
Occupation: Actor

Extra details

James was the third of Arthur and Margaret Cobb's seven children. He was educated at Blackheath Proprietary School and Brecon College. He was only at Brecon for two terms before leaving, at the age of 16, to be trained as an engineer. After two years James found the life distasteful, and on the death of his father he joined a branch of the London and Provincial Bank.

It was then he discovered his love of history and books, particularly the bible. He then chose the stage as his profession, performing as well as being stage a manager. He devoted much time to writing plays and published a book "Struggles" (Mills & Boon).

James enlisted in the Royal West Kents as a Private on 10th August 1914, obtaining a commission in November. In July 1915 he was sent to Sulva Bay, Gallipoli, where he served alongside his brother Robert. On the evacuation he was sent to Egypt where, on 27th March 1916, he was seriously wounded by a defective bomb whilst in charge of the bombing school. His injuries were so bad that it took him a year to recover. Once fit James was sent to France where he was killed on 23rd August 1918.