Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Matthew Beaver a railway platelayer, born 1859 in Hoby, Leicestershire and his wife Alice Beaver (nee Pymm, married in the 2nd quarter of 1883 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district), born 8th March 1864 in Frisby on the Wreake, Leicestershire. James Pym was born in 1891 in Halstead, Leicestershire, his siblings were, John William, born 13th March 1884, Margaret Mary, born 1886 and Henry, born 1888 all his siblings were born in Tilton on the Hill, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at the Salisbury Hotel, Halstead. In April 1911 James was employed as an insurance agent and was residing in the family home at 6, Archdale, Barkby, Leicestershire, together with his wife Eliza Ellen Beaver (nee Brown, married in the 4th quarter of 1908 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1887 in Empingham, Rutland and their son James Matthew, born 1910 in Denton, Lincolnshire.
His enlistment documents record that he attested on the 6th August 1914 into the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, at the time he gave his age as 23 years and 4 months, his parish of birth as Syston, Leicestershire, his trade or calling as Box Fitter and he stated that he was married and resided with his wife Eliza Ellen Beaver at 16, -?- Street, Syston, Leicestershire, this address was later changed to Empingham, Rutland. Information taken from his medical examinations shows him to have been 5 foot 7 inches in height with a chest measurement of between 33½ and 35½ inches, his physical development was described as satisfactory, he was pronounced fit for service and his boot size was given as size 8. He gave his religion as Church of England. His service record shows that he remained on Home Service from the 6th August 1914 until the 1st March 1915, totalling 208 days, he then entered the theatre of war in France on the 2nd March 1915 where he served until he died in Boulogne Military Hospital at 2.50pm on the 3rd June 1915 from a gunshot wound that he sustained on the 29th May 1915, his overseas service totalling 94 days. On the 7th December 1918 his wife was shown in an official letter relating to the personal property of her late husband as residing at 35, Ashton Road, Luton, Bedfordshire.
The War Diary records: 24 May-15 - Whit Monday. No holiday, but glorious day for one. At 12.05am red flare and rocket seen to north of F2 just after midnight. 3.00am Zeppelin reported from SP.27 to be going North West some 5 or 6 miles away, moving very fast. At 6.00am -?- came over Battalion Headquarters. Sounds of much firing heard North East all am. ITALY declares war against AUSTRIA. At 12.30pm anti gas -?- from E6 blew up, no-one damaged, cause, probably heat and warm air (ammonia gas very volatile) lids have to be punctured. No other bombs or grenades went off though 2 machine guns damaged. Commanding Officer and Adjutant spent 8 hours in fire trenches. Between 6.15 and 7.45pm regular little artillery duel, mostly in E1 and 15 neighbourhood. No damage done to us, but German parapet damaged opposite F4.2 some damage apparently done opposite E2. Result of our howitzers firing lyddite was that many complaints of sore eyes. ? was this result of gas used North. At 9.30pm 1 red flare seen South East thought to be German. At 11.40pm 2 red flares. Heavy rifle fire in evening, throughout high. During later portion of am, one of our men got hit 9 yards outside PICCADILLY mending wire, was pluckily pulled in by ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY Corporal, 2nd STAFFORDSHIRE Battery. One WEAVER Regimental No. 13. Casualties, wounded No. 2116 Private J. P. BEAVER “B” Company, through thigh, rather serious, shattered. Was out of PICCADILLY locating broken telephone wire, was pulled to safety by No. 13 Cpl WEAVER 2nd STAFFORDSHIRE BATTERY. No 2593 L/Corporal JONES “D” Company periscope cut E1. No. ( ) Private R. C. SHARPE “D” Company periscope cut E1.
On Friday June 11th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” - TERRITORIAL DIES FROM WOUNDS. – Mrs. Beaver, wife of Pte. James Pym Beaver, 2116, 1st/4th Leicester’s, received a letter on Saturday last, from the Matron of the Base Hospital at Boulogne, stating that her husband, wounded in the hip by a bullet during an action ‘somewhere in France’ on May 26th, had succumbed to haemorrhage on June 3rd. Deceased who was the first in Syston, we believe to join the Territorial ranks on the outbreak of war, had acted for about three years as the district agent of Singer Sewing Machine Co., and was well known and greatly respected. In hospital the matron testified that he was a most cheerful patient, and each day in his letters to his wife, he spoke quite joyfully of his expected return to England, as his wound was progressing as favourably as could be expected. When haemorrhage set in again, however, all that medical skill and devoted nursing could do was ineffectual, and he gradually sank. His remains were laid to rest with military honours in the English cemetery at Boulogne, amongst so many of his brave countrymen. He leaves a widow with two children, six and two years old respectively, for whom the greatest sympathy is felt. His parent’s who reside at Tilton on the Hill, have two other sons in the army, Harry Beaver, at present serving in France, and William Beaver, who is on Salisbury Plain.
On Friday June 18th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading.“DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” (A photograph accompanied the article). – PRIVATE JAMES PYM BEAVER. The portrait is that of Private J. P. Beaver, of Syston, who, as stated in our issue of last week, died at the Base Hospital, Boulogne, on June 23rd, as a result of a bullet wound in the hip. It is published by courtesy of the “Leicester Mail.”
On Friday July 2nd 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – The following casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment are announced by the official Press Bureau:- Reported from the Base, June 9th. KILLED. Smith, 2803. Pte. J., 4th Battalion (T.F.). WOUNDED. Raven, 2621, Pte. E., 4th Battalion (T.F.). Vann, 2374, Pte. H.N., 4th Battalion (T.F.). The following casualty in the Leicestershire Regiment has been received for publication:- Reported from the Base under the date 10th June:- DIED OF WOUNDS. Beaver, 2116, Pte. J.P., 4th Battalion (T.F.).