Laws,+James+William

Private James William laws of The 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. Service number 35481



1899: Born third quarter in the Pontefract district, West Riding. Parents John William Laws (Brewers labourer) and Eliza Laws. 1901: Census. Age 1 year. Living at 30, Gray Street, Goole with his parents and brothers George and Harold. 1911: Census. Age 12 years. Living at Rising Sun Cottages, Hill Top, Knottingley with his parents, 3 brothers and 2 sisters. Father was now a ballastman on the railway. 1917: Employed by Messrs. R. Clough and Co. Botany Mills, Dalton lane. Enlisted in Army, August. No. 5/108013, 8th Training Reserve Battalion, Prince of Wales' Own West Yorkshire Regiment; No. 62367, Prince of Wales' Own West Yorkshire Regiment. 1918: Entered France in early April. Service number 35481. 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment. (Yorkshire Hussars)(?) Wrote letter home 16th April. Killed in action on April 29th. Death reported in Keighley News 18th May.

He has no known final resting place. Remembered on the Yorkshire Regiment panel number 53, at Tyne Cot War Memorial and Cemetery. He is remembered in the Keighley WW1 illuminated Roll of Honour book, which is in Keighley Library. Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his war service. His family received a memorial plaque and scroll in honour of his sacrifice.

His photograph, letter, medals and memorial plaque have been given to the Men of Worth Project to be archived.

//April 16th 1918// //Dear Mother & Father,// //I am sorry that I have(n't) written before but I have had no writing paper and I have borrowed this.// //I hope you are in the best of health as it leaves me in the pink. It is rough out here but we have got to stick it.// //Gillard has got in another company so I don't see him now. It is rather cold out here we had a lot of snow one day.// //We are not allowed to write our address on top but put it in the middle. It is Pte J W Laws (35481) C. Coy. 10// //Platoon 2nd Yorks Regt. B.E.F. France. Put this down on a piece of paper and there you will have it. Remember me to// //all at Keighley and tell them I will write later.// //From your affectionate son Jim.// //Cheer up, the war will soon be over.//
 * A letter that Private James William Laws wrote home from the front:**

Mr and Mrs J. Laws, of 6, Buxton Street, Dalton lane, have received official news of the death in action on April 29 of their second son, Private James William Laws, of the Yorkshire Regiment. He joined the Army in August last, and had only been in France about three weeks. In civil life he was employed by Messrs. R. Clough and co. Botany Mills, Dalton Lane. 14337797281433779728143377972814337797281433779728143377972814337797281433779728143377972814337797281433779728143377972814337797281433779728143377972814337797281433779728143377972814337797281433779728143377972814337797281433779728
 * Keighley News report dated 18th May 1918:**