Bolton Church Institute School War Memorial

James Isherwood Bolton

James Isherwood Bolton was born in Bolton in 1899.

He was the only son of Edwin and Elizabeth Bolton of 100 Belmont Road, Astley Bridge.

He had four sisters - Annie, Doris, Elizabeth and Alice.

His father, Edwin Bolton, was a book keeper and contractor’s clerk.

James was first educated at St Paul's, Astley Bridge CE Primary School and then attended Bolton Church Insitute from 18 September 1911 to 30 July 1913.

After leaving School he worked as a clerk for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.

Bolton family tree - pdf

James's War

James was serving as a Signaller in the East Lancashire Regiment at the time of his death.

He had also served in the Cheshire Regiment and the Manchester Regiment.

The 11th Battalion of the East Lancashires was originally the Accrington Pals Battalion but by the end of the war most battalions contained many men without local connections.

They had taken part in many battles on the Somme and in Flanders in 1918 and were involved as part of the 92nd Brigade in the Final Advance before the Armistice was signed.

James must have been withdrawn from the fighting because of illness and sent back to a base hospital, probably only a short time before he died - on the last day of the war.

The 'Spanish Flu' influenza pandemic of June 1918 to December 1920 killed many more people across the world than the War itself.

His name is on the Bank Top Church War Memorial in what is now Bank Top United Refrormed Church in Ashworth Lane, Astley Bridge, Bolton. It would have been a Congregational Church during WW1.

Bolton Journal and Guardian
22 November 1918

IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN

DIED ON ACTIVE SERVICE

BOLTON – In loving memory of Sig. JAS. ISHERWOOD BOLTON, East Lancs Regt., who died Nov. 11th, 1918 (Peace Day), on active service from influenza, in his 20th year, interred at Terlincthun British Cemetery, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Bolton – 100 Belmont-rd.