Private James Henry Oddie. 

9587 1st Cheshire Regiment.

Killed in Action 4th November 1916, aged 23.

James was baptised 12 April 1893 in St Peter’s Church, Burnley. His mother was Sarah Oddie and they lived at 55 Hebrew Rd.

In the 1901 census James and his brother Albert were living with their grandmother Mary Oddie (68), at 55 Hebrew Rd, Burnley. James her son 36 and her daughter Sarah, the boy’s mother.

In the 1911 census James was living with his uncle James at 55 Hebrew Rd.

From The Express and Advertiser dated 28th October 1914: YOUNG MILITIA MAN. ONE OF A MILITARY FAMILY.

Word reached his mother on Monday morning that Private James Henry Oddie of The 3rd Cheshire Regiment, had been wounded.  The announcement was on one of the official printed postcards and came from the soldier himself, but no indication is given of his whereabouts or how he was wounded. Private Oddie is 22 years, and used to work as a weaver at Messrs' Woodward's Mill.  III Cheshire's is the Militia regiment.

A Burnley Express reporter was informed by the young soldier’s mother that he comes of quite a military family. 3 of her brothers went through the South African war returning unscathed, and another brother was serving in India at the time. At the present time, in addition to her son, she has a nephew on active service in France with the Scottish rifles , a brother acting as a drill instructor for the Scottish Fusiliers, and a nephew with the East Lancashire Regiment in Egypt.

From The Express and Advertiser dated 18 November 1916: KILLED IN EXPLOSION. YOUNG BURNLEY PRIVATES DEATH.

Mrs Oddie 14 Raws Street Burnley, has received news that her elder son Private James Henry Oddie 9587 of the Cheshire Regiment, attached to a trench mortar battery was killed on November 4th. 24 years of age he was a weaver employed by the Holligreave Manufacturing Company and a member of the Cheshire militia. He went out to the front very early, and was wounded in the hand after a short term of Active Service. Later he suffered from frostbite. He used to attend St. Andrews. A cousin has served 18 months and another cousin is out at the present time.

Captain C H Warner his officer wrote on November 5th: "Dear Mrs Oddie, it is my sad duty to communicate to you the news of your son's death.  He was killed in the trenches last evening (November fourth) about 4.00 p m by the explosion of a German shell. Death was absolutely instantaneous. Arrangements are being made for his burial in the local Military Cemetery. He was the most cheerful and willing of men, and he had only just returned to me for duty from his regiment. When I tell you I had applied for him you will understand that I thought well of him."

From The Express and Advertiser dated 3 November 1917: IN MEMORIAM.

ODDIE. - In loving memory of Private J H Oddie 1st Cheshire Regiment, killed in action on November 4th 1916.

It's only a mother who knows the sorrow.

It's only a mother who knows the pain.

Of losing a son she loved so dearly.

And knows she'll never see him again.

But the hardest part is Yet to Come.

When the Warriors return.

And we miss a mock the cheering crowd.

The face of him that's gone.

 From his sorrowing mother and brother.

Lived at 14 Raws Street.

James left his effects to his mother Sarah.

James was buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery, France. Grave Ref; IV.B.36.