Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Hames, a Borough fireman, born in the April quarter of 1856 in Leicester (son of Benjamin Hames, 1818 and Ann Martin, 1829) and his wife Maria Hames (nee Littlewood, married on the 13th April 1889 in the Church of St. John the Divine, Leicester), born in the January quarter of 1863 in Asfordby, Leicestershire (daughter of William Littlewood, 1816-1882 and Esther Lacey, 1818-1875). John Albert was born in the July quarter of 1897 in Leicester and baptised on the 17th March 1902 in St. George’s Church, Leicester, his siblings were Millicent, born in the October quarter of 1893 and baptised on the 23rd March 1896 in St. George’s Church, Leicester and Thomas, born on the 26th November 1899 and baptised on the 17th March 1902 in St. George’s Church, Leicester, both his siblings were born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at No.2 Cottage, Fire Station, Rutland Street, Leicester. In April 1911, John was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 24, Colton Street, Leicester, together with his father, a Borough fireman, his mother and siblings, Millicent, a hosiery trade worker and Thomas, a schoolboy.
John also had the following siblings, Benjamin born in the July quarter of 1889 in Leicester and baptised on the 26th July 1889 in St. George’s Church, Leicester and who died in age 6 months in December 1889, and was interred on the 27th December in Welford Road Cemetery, Leicester and William, born in the October quarter of 1891 in Leicester and who died aged 6 years in April 1898 and was interred on the 18th April in Welford Road Cemetery, Leicester.
John enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 10th December 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 77946. He gave his age as 18 years 6 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as packer engineering. He gave his present address as 24, Colton Street, Leicester.
His description on enlistment recorded his apparent age as 18 years 6 months, height 5-feet 7½ inches and his chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches
He gave his next of kin as his mother, Maria Hames, father, William Hames, 24, Colton Street, Leicester.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Attested. At Leicester. 10/12/15.
To Army Reserve. 11/12/15.
Mobilized. 8/5/16.
Posted. To Royal Garrison Artillery. Gunner. 8/5/16.
Posted. No. 4. Depot, Great Yarmouth. Royal Garrison Artillery. Gunner. 8/5/16.
Posted. 149th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery. Gunner. 2/6/16.
Embarked. From Southampton. 21/8/16.
Disembarked. At Le Havre. 22/8/16.
Wounded in action, slightly and remained at duty, In the Field. 29/9/16.
Admitted. To Hospital, I.C.T., right foot. In the Field. 23/2/17.
Returned to duty with 149th Siege Battery. In the Field. 3/3/17.
Killed in action. In the Field. 22/9/17.
Buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, 2½ miles West of Ypres.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 10/12/15 – 20/8/16. 254 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 21/8/16 – 22/9/17. 1 year 33 days.
Total Service. 1 year 287 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On the 25th June 1918, John’s mother Maria, of 24, Colton Street, Leicester was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of five shillings, commensurate the 9th July 1918.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.