O’Connell, James Walter Joseph

Age: 30
Date of birth: Q2 1916

Parents: James and Lucy Jane O'Connell (nee Adkins)
Wife: Kathleen Elsie O'Connell of Osbourne St Andrew, Wiltshire
Address: 5 Wathen Road, Warwick

Occupation: Career solider / Lockheed Brake Company in Leamington

James O’Connell was born in 1916. His father was James (1895-1942) and his mother Lucy Jane O’Connell (nee Adkins – 1897-1957) and they had married a year before, in 1915. James had two younger brothers William Richard (1917-1945) and Reginald (1926-1985).

 

James married Kathleen Elsie Potter in Marlborough in 1942.  Here is their wedding photo

James’ brother William died in 1945, in Warwick Hospital and is buried in Warwick Cemetery.

Kathleen married again, in 1957, to Richard Mason of Marlborough.  James’ mother, Lucy, was buried in Warwick Cemetery in 1957. His wife died in 1972 and is buried in Marlborough.

Military Service

Rank & Number: Sergeant, 5249452
Regiment/Service: 2nd Royal Tank Regiment
Brigade/Division: 7th Armoured Brigade
Date of death: 29th November 1944
Cause of death/Battle: Died of wounds
Commemorated/Buried: Buried in Ancona War Cemetery, Italy. IV. L. 13.
Awards:
Commemorated locally at:

Warwick Advertiser 26th January 1945

 

James was a career soldier, having enlisted in the Worcestershire Regiment when 17 years old. He later transferred to the Manchester Regiment and took discharge in 1939. He had only just started his civilian career with Lockheed Brakes (he had been there for four days) when he was recalled at the outbreak of war in 1939

 

 

Here is an announcement, placed just two months after James death:

 

 

Contributors

  • Unlocking Warwick Research Group
  • Warwick Advertiser excerpts courtesy of Warwickshire County Record Office

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