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James Edgar Abel
07/06/1880 - 22/12/1917
CWGC Cemetery: Honnechy British CemeteryOther Memorials: St Mary's Church, Shortlands, Shortlands War Memorial, Beckenham War Memorial
Place of birth: Islington, London
Last known address in Bromley: 14 Shortlands Road
Last known address in Bromley: 14 Shortlands Road
Military information
Regiment/Service: Queen's Own Royal West Kent RegimentBattalion/Ship: 6th Bn
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Number: Unknown
Awards: Military Cross
Family information
Parents: James & Hannah Ruth Abel (nee Mason)Parents' occupation: Manager in bookbinding trade
Siblings: Kate Rebecca, John Harold, Nora Ruth
Census information
1891Address: Christ's Hospital School, Newgate Street, London
Occupation: Scholar
1901
Address: 532 Caledonian Road, Lower Holloway, Islington
Occupation: Bookbinder's clerk
1911
Address: Dunolly, 14 Shortlands Road
Occupation: Assistant manager in the bookbinding trade
Extra details
James was born on 7th June 1880 and baptised on 25th July at St. Andrew's Barnsbury, Islington. His parents James and Hannah Ruth Abel were living at 80 Offord Road, James snr was a publisher's warehouseman. He was the eldest of their 4 children.
After attending St Andrew's School, Barnsbury James entered Christ's Hospital School, Newgate Street, London on 23rd May 1889 and left on 16th April 1896 to become a clerk. By 1911 the family had moved to Dunolly, 14 Shortlands Road, Shortlands where James Edgar is shown as an assistant manager in the bookbinding trade.
He enlisted in the Artist's Rifles in January 1916 and went to France with them in 1916. He then took a commission (2Lt) with the 6th Queen's Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment in September 1917. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Cambrai on 30th November and died from his wounds on 22nd December 1917.
The London Gazette 22nd April 1918 records that he received the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his company commander became a casualty he assumed command at a critical period and worked his men forward to a strong point, whence the enemy were developing heavy machine-gun fire, and silenced them by concentrated rifle fire. His courage and fine leadership saved many casualties, and enabled the battalion to continue the advance".
His father had died earlier in 1917.
Thank you to Christ's Hospital School for their assistance.
Additional photographs
Source: Honnechy British Cemetery
Source: St Mary's Shortlands Book of Remembrance
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