Roll of Honour
Private James Winman
Service Number: 57385
Regiment: Machine Gun Corps.
Conflict: World War One
Date of Death: 14th June 1917
Age at Death: 27
Burial/Memorial Location: Metz-en-Couture Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Son of Thomas & Laura Winman, of 12 Bardwell Terrace.
"Private J, Winman, son of Mr and Mrs Winman, of Bardwell Terrace, has been killed. A letter from an officer in his Battalion says he was killed while asleep in a dug-out, and it is presumed that his death was instantaneous. Pte. Winman was in the Machine Gun Corps, and had been in France about five months. He had not long been discharged from hospital, having suffered from dysentery. He was 27 years of age and leaves a young widow to mourn his loss.
The following is a letter received from the officer, who speaks in the highest terms of the deceased soldier’s good qualities: “It is with the greatest regret that I am writing to ask if you will please convey to Mrs J. Winman the very sad news of her husband’s death while on active service. He was killed, while asleep in a dug-out, by a shell at about 8 o’clock on the morning of the 14th of June. There were three other men in the same dug-out, one being killed and the others wounded.
Private Winman’s body was brought down from the trenches last night and was buried in an English cemetery at 9 a.m. A Church of England clergyman officiated, and all the officers and men available attended the burial of their comrade. Please inform Mrs Winman that everything possible is being done to mark the resting place of her husband, and a cross with his name is being made. All his kit and personal belongings is being forwarded to her.
Will you please convey to Mrs Winman the deepest sympathy from the officers and men in her sad bereavement. He was a good soldier, never failing in his duty, and always ready to lend a willing hand in any work we were given to do. If there is anything possible I can arrange, or any request Mrs Winman may wish, I will give it my immediate attention.”" Bicester Advertiser 22/06/1917