211059 Pte. James Routledge Preston British Army 13th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment from:9 Beconsfield Ave, Cornwall st. Hull (d.25th May 1916) James R. Preston was a son of Hornsea, East Yorkshire, England. He was born 1880 or 1881. He voluntered to go to war December 1914 aged 34. He was a widower with 3 children, we believe two girls and a boy. He died in France, we believe on the Somme on 25th May 1916. His children were brought up by his sister Sarah. We have found out he has a grave within the Sucrerie Cemetery in France. We wonder why he voluntered at the age he was, having 3 children with no mother. He is my partner's great grandad and every year we go to Hornsea on Rememberance Sunday where my partner leaves his Poppy at the Memorial Garden. I think one day he would like to go to France to see his great grandad's grave. My mother has told me that her father voluntered to go to fight in the great war aged 17 (he lied about his age). She says he went to Selonika and he rode horses. Of course he lived and went on to marry my Grandma and have 6 children. I have been told he was Mustard gassed and had problems with his chest all his life, dying in his late 50s or early 60s. We remember them even though we never knew them, we're pretty sure they would be unaware of what was to come or of their fate would be. The very least we can do is honour them and never forget them.
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