Lives of the First World War

PRIVATE JAMES POOLE News that Private James Poole had been killed in action on October 29th was received by his sister, Mrs Holland, 20 Navigation Road, Northwich, with whom he formerly lived. He was 19 years of age, and enlisted in June last. He had been at the front line only a fortnight when he met his death. A son of Mr Poole, of the Alliance Works, Marston, he educated at Marston (C.E.) School. In civil life he was an apprenticed boiler maker and riveter in the employ of Mr. John Parks, of Manchester Road, Northwich. His fiancee, Miss Proudlove, received a letter from one of his comrades, Signaller Butler, telling her that Private Poole had made the supreme sacrifice.

From Northwich Guardian Friday, November 23, 1917.

Mrs Holland 20 Navigation Road, Northwich, received official information on Sunday that her brother, Private James Poole, who had lived with her, had been killed in action on October 29th. Private Poole, who was 19 years of age, enlisted as recently as June 11th, and had been at the front line only a fortnight when he met with his death. He was a son of Mr Poole of the Alliance Works, Marston, and was educated at Marston Church of England Schools. In civil life he was an apprenticed boiler maker and riveter in the employ of Mr John Parks, of Manchester Road, Northwich. On Saturday his fiancée, Miss Proudlove, received a letter from his "pal" Signaller Butler, who said: "I am sorry to tell you that Jim has been killed. We had only been in the trenches half an hour when a shell came and knocked six of us over. When I recovered consciousness I shouted 'Heigh. mate!' but received no answer. I afterwards saw Jim bleedbleeding terribly from the head, and I think he had a leg missing.

Memoriam from Northwich Guardian 25 October 1918

MARSTON CHURCHYARD

TWO BROTHERS AND A BROTHER IN LAW: JAMES POOLE; WALTER POOLE AND JOHN HOLLAS MATHEWS