James Beaconsfield Nightingale was born on 19 April 1892 in Horley, Surrey, the fourth of the seven children of James Nightingale (1863-1941) and Alice Mary Nightingale née Potter (1861-1928). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1892 in the Reigate Registration District, Surrey. On 12 June 1892 he was baptised at St Bartholomew's Church, Horley, where in the baptismal register his family were shown to be living in Glenthorne, Horley and that his father was a brick manufacturer.
In 1891 census he is shown as James B. Nightingale, aged 8 years and living at 8 Fulwell Terrace, Fulwell, Teddington, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his parents and his six siblings: Alice Eliza Nightingale (1886-1947); Edith Nightingale (1888-1965); Lilian Mabel Nightingale (1891-1987); Violet Gertrude Nightingale (1893-1948); Gladys Emily Nightingale (1897-1984) and Norman Edward Nightingale (1900-1953). His father was described as a general labourer and his elder sister, Alice Eliza Nightingale, was a draper's cashier.
He is shown as James Beaconsfield Nightingale, aged 18 years, single and an assistant school teacher on the 1911 census return form completed by his father. He was living in a seven roomed property at 194 Church Road, Teddington, with his parents and five of his siblings: Edith Nightingale - a stationer's shop assistant; Lilian Mabel Nightingale - a draper's shop assistant; Violet Gertrude Nightingale - a school bursar; Gladys Emily Nightingale and Norman Edward Nightingale, both scholars. His father was shown as a builder's labourer.
He enlisted in February 1912 as a Private in the 1st/20th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Blackheath & Woolwich), service number 1050, a Territorial Force regiment and was serving as a Corporal when he entered France on 9 March 1915 but had been promoted to Serjeant when he was killed in action, aged 23 years, on 25 September 1915 in the Battle of Loos, France. As he had no known grave he was commemorated on Stone No.134.B on the Loos Memorial to the Missing in Dud Corner Cemetery, Rte de Béthune, 62750 Loos-en-Gohelle, France. It was not until September 1923 that his body along with an officer and nine other men were found in the same trench and all were wearing their gas respirators. He was identified by his clothing and numerals and he was reburied in Grave 3 in the Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, 5000F Rue Carnot, 62153 Souchez, France.
On 6 January 1916 his army effects totalling £15-1s-6d were sent to his father who was also sent his £7-0s-0d war gratuity on 8 July 1919. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'NIGHTINGALE J B SGT' on the Teddington War Memorial in Broad Street, Teddington, TW11 and as 'JAMES NIGHTINGALE' on the Stanley School WW1 Memorial at Stanley Primary School, Stanley Road, Teddington, TW11. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website and on the A Street Near You website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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