The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private J Wiggin

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Photograph by "Pearlady"

Private James WIGGIN, L/10635, 8th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment,  killed in action, at Ypres, Flanders France, 4th June 1916, age 18.

12th December 1897, born Blackpool, Lancashire, son of William Wiggin and Cecilia Jane, (daughter of the late John Vernon, Army Pensioner), of 20 Peel Street, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire / 28 Branch Road, Burnley, Lancashire/ 9, Princess Street, Burnley, Lancashire.

Educated Revoe Council School, Blackpool, Lancashire.

1911 Census - 11 Caroline Street, Blackpool, Lancashire - William Wiggin, head, age 43, married, gas worker, Borough Council, born Padham, Lancashire; Cecilia Jane Wiggin, wife, age 43, married 23 years, 9 children, 5 still alive, born Walmer, Kent; Ann Wiggin, daughter, age 15, single, born Blackpool, Lancashire; James Wiggin, son, age 13, school, born Blackpool, Lancashire; Doris Wiggin, daughter, age 10, school, born Blackpool, Lancashire; Cecilia Frances Wiggin, daughter, age 5, school, born Blackpool, Lancashire.

Enlisted  Accrington, Lancashire, age 18 year & 1 month, height 5ft 4¼ inches, weight 104lbs, fresh complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair.  Resided Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire. Formerly cotton spinner, with The Vine Mill Company, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

Home, 9th January 1915 to 30th September 1915; BEF, 1st October 1915 to 4th June 1916.

9th January 1915, enlisted; 10th January 1915, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 20th January 1915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 25th April 1915, Chatham, absent from 9.30pm until 9.30pm 27th April 1915, admonished, forfeits 3 days pay; 1st October 1915, posted BEF & 8th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st October 1915, embarked.

12th July 1919, Statement of Relatives - Widow, nonw; Children, none; Father, William Wiggin, 9, Princess Street, Burnley; Mother, Cecilia Jane Wiggin, 9, Princess Street, Burnley; Brother - None; Sister - Alice, 10 Clive Street, Burnley; Annie, 18 Abby Street, Burnley; Doris, 9, Princess Street, Burnley; Cissee, 9, Princess Street, Burnley.

Buried at Dranoutre Military Cemetery, II. B. 8., Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Commemorated Blackpool, Lancashire War Memorial.