233590 Pte. James Foy British Army 4th Btn. King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment from:Esh, County Durham (d.20th Nov 1917) James Foy, Private 28023, served in the 1/4th Btn. King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and is remembered on the Malton War Memorial (Sadlers).
James was born on 15th November 1877. He married Mary Ann Ward on 1st July 1908 and between 1909 and 1916 they had five children.
On 28th February 1917, James was called up and enlisted at Newcastle and he was posted to 80th TR Battalion.
On 1st March James joined 80th TR Battalion (Preston?.) On 8th June of that year, he embarked at Folkstone and on the same day disembarked at Boulogne. On 9th June he joined the BEF at Etalpes (80th TR Batt). On 23rd June James transferred to 1/4th Kings Own Royal Lancs ("B" company?), and on 15th July he joined the battalion.
On 31st July 1917 the battalion was involved in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. On 20th September they took part in the Battle of Menin Road Ridge.
On 1st November the 1/4th was at Lempire east of Peronne under Lt Col G.B. Balfour. On 3rd November they were at Longagavesnes (playing football and training up to the 19 November).
20th November saw the battalion involved in the Battle of Cambrai. Zero hour was set at 6.20.am. At 6.22 A, B, and C company went over the top. At 6.37 A coy tried but failed to contact B coy. By 12.40am it was all over, with 81 reported missing, 11 dead and 120 wounded.
James Foy was recorded as missing in action. He had served 267 days.
On 28th November his disc was forwarded to the Central Office for effects by the battalion of an infantry regiment.
A request to London from Preston for any personal possessions to be forwarded to Mary was made on 8th January 1918.
On 26th January James was listed on the official German list of the dead (Y.78172). The next day Mary was informed but told his death had to be confirmed as fact.
On 4th July 1918 Mary received notice of a pension award (£37/11s a week to commence on 22nd July 1918). (NB James is still officially missing.)
James's ID Discs are forwarded from Preston on 26th November 1918 and on 28th November 1918 Mary acknowledges receipt of Discs.
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