{{Short description|English recipient of the Victoria Cross}} {{other people}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox military person | name = Herbert James | honorific_suffix = <small>VC, MC</small> | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1887|10|31}} | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1958|8|15|1888|11|30}} | birth_place = Ladywood, Birmingham | death_place = Kensington, London | burial_place = West London Crematorium, Kensal Green Cemetery, London | image = Portrait photo of Herbet James VC.jpg | image_size = | caption = | nickname = | allegiance = United Kingdom | service_years = 1909–1930 | rank = Major | branch = British Army | commands = | unit = {{plainlist| *21st Lancers *Worcestershire Regiment *East Lancashire Regiment *York and Lancaster Regiment }} | battles = World War I | awards = {{plainlist| *30px Victoria Cross *Military Cross *Mentioned in Despatches *Medal of La Solidaridad (Panama) *Croix de Guerre (France) }} | other_work = }} Major '''Herbert James''' {{post-nominals|VC|MC}} (31 October 1887 – 15 August 1958) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Herbert James was born at 11 Ingleby Street in Ladywood,<ref>Birth Certificate from Birmingham Register Office</ref> Birmingham. He was the son of Walter James and Emily James (née Danford). By the 1891 Census his family were living at 76 Three Shires Oak Road in Bearwood, Smethwick.<ref>1891 UK Census</ref> He attended Bearwood Road Infants School and later went on to become a teacher there, and subsequently at Brasshouse Lane School.<ref name=":0">For King & Country; Smethwick's Two VCs of the First World War (Chris Sutton, 2012)</ref>
James was 26 years old and a second lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wfrmuseum.org.uk/vcwinners.htm |title=Victoria Cross Winners |accessdate=2008-01-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118145503/http://www.wfrmuseum.org.uk/vcwinners.htm |archivedate=18 January 2008}}</ref> British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 28 June 1915 in the southern zone of Gallipoli, when the advance of part of the regiment had been checked, Second-Lieutenant James, from a neighbouring unit, gathered together a body of men and led them forward under heavy fire. He then returned, organised a second party and again advanced, putting fresh life into the attack. On 3 July he headed a party of bomb throwers up a Turkish communication trench and when all his party had been killed or wounded, he remained alone, under murderous fire and kept back the enemy until a barrier had been built behind him and the trench secured.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 29281|date=31 August 1915 |page=8700|supp=y}}</ref>
James returned home, after his award of the VC and received Civic receptions in both Birmingham and Smethwick.<ref name=":0" /> His family address, as of his visit in November 1915, was 141 Poplar Avenue in Edgbaston, Birmingham.<ref name=":0" />
He later achieved the rank of major. His medals are on display at the Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.<ref>[http://www.maryboroughmuseum.org/anzacs.html Maryborough Museum] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028193021/http://www.maryboroughmuseum.org/anzacs.html |date=28 October 2010 }}</ref>
Two memorials to James were unveiled in 2010. on 2 July a memorial stone was unveiled at the East Chapel in Kensal Green Cemetery, where he was cremated.<ref name=":0" /> On 12 November a plaque was unveiled at Bearwood Road School. This was presented to the school by Smethwick Heritage Centre.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== *{{cite book|last=Snelling|first=Stephen|title=Gallipoli|series=VCs of the First World War|orig-date=1995|year=2012|publisher=The History Press|isbn=978-0752456539}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001954/http://www.smethwick-heritage.co.uk/heroes-herbert2.htm Smethwick Heritage Centre] *[https://archive.today/20130122234116/http://www.expressandstar.com/latest/2008/06/12/vc-to-be-sold-at-auction/ VC to be sold at auction] *[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbjamesh.htm VC sale] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20041028141011/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/kensalgr.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Kensal Green Cemetery)'' *{{Find a Grave|7709984}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Herbert}} Category:1887 births Category:1958 deaths Category:British Gallipoli campaign recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:Worcestershire Regiment officers Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:Recipients of the Military Cross Category:People from Ladywood Category:Burials at Kensal Green Cemetery Category:East Lancashire Regiment officers Category:York and Lancaster Regiment officers Category:21st Lancers soldiers Category:British recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:Military personnel from Birmingham, West Midlands