Born in 1889 at Wandsworth, son of Thomas (Waiter) and Matilda Chart. 1891: With his family at Castleton Villa, Burntwood Lane, Wandsworth. In 1899 his father died at the age of 62. 1901: James was a Scholar living with his widowed mother and family at 1 Clonmore Street, Wandsworth. In 1906 his mother married George Fry. 1911: The family was living at 20 Vant Road, Tooting. George was a fitter of taxi meter transmissions for the General Cab Ltd, while James was a tyre fitter for the same Company.
Having joined 13 Middlesex Regiment, James landed in France on 4th October 1915.
At 14.45 on 18th August 1916 the Battalion attacked Guillemont trenches but was held up just outside them by machine guns from strong point on right, and then shelled heavily while lying in the open. About 11 Officers and 340 Other Ranks became casualties. That night the Battalion was withdrawn to Bricquetterie. James Chart was among those Killed in Action during the attack.
His connection to Woodford remains unclear.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com