James Arthur Warden 1885-1917

James A Warden from the Barnsley Chronicle 26 May 1917
(thanks to Barnsley Archives)

Born:
1885 in Jump, Barnsley, Yorkshire

Son of:
Arthur Warden b.1860 (in either France or Cleckheaton!) d. 1936 buried in Barnsley Cemetery, section 6, grave 177.
1911: 21 Wright's Terrace, Barnsley Coal Miner
married in the Barnsley Registration in Jan Q 1884 to
Agnes (nee Robinson) b. 1861 Wombwell, Yorkshire d.1952 Wright's Terrace buried in Barnsley Cemetery with her husband.

Position in family: The eldest of 7 surviving children plus an older half sister. One child has died young before the 1911 census.
1. Kate Robinson b.1883
2. James Arthur Warden b.1885 WWI DIED OF WOUNDS
3. Sarah J Warden b.1887 m.Walter Hudson c.1905 2 children (with her parents in 1911)
4. Richard Warden b.1889 m.Ruth Emily c. 1908 3 children WW1 SERVICE
5. Lottie Warden b.1891
6. Agnes Warden b.1894
7. Spencer Warden b.1899
8. Wilfred Warden b.1902

Home address, age and occupation:
1891: Kitroyd, Jump, Barnsley aged 6
1901: New Street, Barnsley aged 16 Platelayer's Labourer
1911: 2 Garden Cottages, Worsbro' Common aged 26 Coal Miner
1917: 19 House, 7 Court, New Street (wife's address at his death)

Marriage: 
James was married at St John's, Barebones on 7 March 1914
to Louisa Christiana Stockton b.1886 Carlton, Yorkshire d.1952 in Cundy Cross.
[However in the 1911 census the couple claim to have been married for 8 years and have already had three children, one died young]

Children:
1. Horace Warden b.1906
2. (another child died young)
3. Agnes Warden b.1910
4. Irene A Warden b.1914 d.1915
5. (three children alive in 1917)

Military Service:
Enlisted: November 1914 at the age of 29 years (according to his obituary)
Regiment and Battalion:   2nd/5th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment
Service number and rank:  Sergeant 240733
Awards: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Death:     10 May 1917 age 32
Died of wound following injury to left thigh and compound fracture of femur
Buried at: St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France
Grave Reference: P.I.I.8B

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Son of Arthur and Agnes Warden, of Barnsley; husband of Louisa C. Warden, of 19 House, 7 Court, New St., Barnsley.

Remembered: 
St John's Church, Barnsley - Oak Memorial Tablet 

Notes:

James Arthur Warden's Army Service Records have not survived.  The details of his family and children are a little puzzling, but maybe there are family members who can fill in the gaps in this story.
 
Listing on Lives of the First World War

Barnsley Chronicle 19 May 1917
(thanks to Barnsley Archives)

From the Barnsley Chronicle on 19 May 1917:

Sergeant James Arthur Warden, Y and L, died of wounds at Rouen on May 10th.  He was 32 years of age and enlisted in November 1914 at which period he was employed at Barrow Colliery.  Sergeant Warden leaves a wife and three children who reside at 19 House, 7 Court, New Street, Barnsley.  The Senior Chaplain (Rev. S. W. L. Richards) has written to Mrs Warden expressing his sorrow: "Your son was admitted to XI Stationery Hospital, Rouen, this afternoon (10th May) with a very severe wound in the left thigh, with a compound fracture of the femur, and his condition was almost hopeless from the first.  I saw him at once and ministered to his spiritual needs.  Towards the end he grew a little delirious, but whilst in possession of his faculties he desired me to write and give you his love and tell you not to worry.  I know how fruitless must be any attempt of mine to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming, but I pray Our Heavenly Father to give to your husband a place of eternal peace, also to assuage the anguish of your bereavement and to leave you only the cherished memory of him who so willingly gave himself a sacrifice upon the alter of his country's welfare.  The funeral will take place in the cemetery of St. Sever, Rouen with full military honours."  Captain Hall and Second-Lieut. E. C. Gore also forwarded their condolences and pointed out that the gallant sergeant suffered no pain.  "The work he did throughout was most valuable: he encouraged the men at the most critical time and proved the brave man we all knew him to be."