Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Sam Price, a coal miner, born 1859 in Packington, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah A. Price (nee Jackson, married in the 1st quarter of 1883 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district), born 1861 in Newhall, Derbyshire. James Walter was born in the 1st quarter of 1892 in Oakthorpe, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Joseph Richard, a colliery lamp cleaner, born 1884, Sam, a colliery labourer, born 1886 and Edith, born 1888, the latter three siblings were all born in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, Sarah Ann, born 1895, Victoria, born 1897 and William Henry, born 1898, the latter three siblings were all born in Oakthorpe, Jennie Maria, born 1900 in Moira, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Sweet Hill Lodge, Blackfordby, Leicestershire. In April 1911 James was employed as a coal mine pony driver and was residing in the family home at Smisby Road, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire together with his father, a coal miner, his mother and siblings, Sarah, a factory packer, Victoria a soap factory packer, William, a schoolboy, Jennie, a schoolgirl and Horace Edward, a schoolboy, born 1902 in Moira. James married Mabel Poyser on the 6th December 1915 in Ashby de la Zouch, the officiant was Mr. James Blayney and the witnesses were, Joseph Price and Rosa Poyser. They had a daughter, Mabel Doreen Price, born April 15th 1920, who James’ did not live to see. James died in the 4th quarter of 1919 in the Ashby de la Zouch district. James attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 1 year with the Colours on the 12th August 1914 in Derby. He gave his place of birth as Oakthorpe, Leicestershire, his age as 21 years and 6 months, his trade or calling as coal miner and he confirmed that he was unmarried. He also stated that he had previously been a member of the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and had purchased his discharge. He gave his father Sam Price and his mother Sarah Price, both of 24, Smisby Road, Ashby de la Zouch, his brother Joseph Price of 117, Church Drive, Shirebrook, and later added his wife Mabel Poyser of 8, Smisby Road, Ashby de la Zouch as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6¼ inches in height, weighed 119 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. His complexion was described as fair, his hair colour was light brown and he had blue eyes. It was noted that he had two vaccination marks on his left arm. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service on the 11th August 1914 in Derby. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Royal Army Medical Corps in Aldershot as a Private, service number 8318 on the 12/8/14. Posted to 21st Field Ambulance on the 5/10/14. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 12/8/14 – 5/10/14, 55 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 6/10/14 – 6/1/19, 4 years 93 days. Home Service, 7/1/19 – 7/2/19, 32 days. Transferred to Army Reserve Class “Z” on the 8/2/19. Total service, 4 years 180 days. James was awarded the 1914 Star and Clasp, the British and Victory medals. James’ widow was awarded a weekly pension of 20 shillings to commence on the 31st December 1919. The following information was provided by James’ widow M. Price on the 2nd May 1922, and was witnessed and signed by Geo. B. -?-, Justice of the Peace, Leicestershire, of Rawdon Terrace, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Widow of soldier, Mabel Price of No. 8, Smisby Road, Ashby de la Zouch. Children of soldier, Mabel Doreen Price, born April 15th 1920. Father of soldier, Samuel Price of No. 24, Smisby Road, Ashby de la Zouch. Mother of soldier, Sarah Price of No. 24, Smisby Road, Ashby de la Zouch. Full blood brothers of soldier, Samuel Price, aged 43 of Hollywell Buildings, Joseph Price, aged 40 Bill Price aged 23 and Horace Price aged 19, all of No. 24. Smisby Road, Ashby de la Zouch. Full blood sisters of soldier, Edith, aged 38 and Sarah Ann, aged 27, of Turks Head Yard, Ashby de la Zouch, Victoria Price, aged 23 and Jennie Price, aged 20 of No. 24, Smisby Road, Ashby de la Zouch. James’ surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
On Saturday January 16th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” - ASHBY MAN’S CHRISTMAS AT THE FRONT. Private J. W. Price, of the 21st Field Ambulance, whose parents reside at Ashby de la Zouch, writing to a friend, says they had a fine time at the front on Christmas Day. “We had a concert in our old barn, at which our officer took the chair. And to complete our joy there was not a shot fired on our part of the line. I must say I have experienced what I shall never forget. The men made an armistice, and they got out of the trenches and met each other half way, shook hands, exchanged cigarettes, cigars and souvenirs. It can’t seem real after the vicious fighting, but I saw it myself, and I got a piece of shell from one of the Germans.”