William Alfred Charles Janes was born in Bexleyheath in 1897, the eldest son of William Alfred (1873-1940) and Kate Emily nee Smith (1869/1870-1922), who were married in St Paulinus, Crayford, on the 6th April 1896.
William Alfred Senior was a labourer who, like many at that time, would work wherever there was a job. At 18, he was listed in the census in Bexleyheath as a carman, Ten years later he was working in Plumstead as a labourer in brickfields, and by 1911, he had taken a job of gas stoker with the Gas Light and Coke Company.
William Alfred Junior was the only child of the couple to be born in Bexleyheath. He was baptised there on 13th June 1897 in Christchurch. His father’s address was 3, Broadway, right in the centre of Bexleyheath.
The young family moved to Plumstead at the time of the 1901 census (31st March) they were living at 7, Cemetery Cottages in the parish of St Nicholas. In Plumstead, Kate gave birth to four more children: two girls, Kate Annie (born 1898/1899) and Edith Florence (born 1900/1901), and two boys, Arthur Thomas (born 2nd May 1902) and Albert Alfred (born 20th April 1904). One more child would complete the family in 1906 after they had settled in Welling, first at 5, Victoria Cottages (address in June 1908 in the Foster’s school admission registers), later at No 8, Talfourd Road (census 1911, 2nd April), and later at No 6, Springfield Road. They did not have to move far because Talfourd Road had been renamed Springfield Road around 1912-1913… So they only moved next door!
The 1911 census shows that Kate did not suffer the loss of any child like so many mothers at the time, although one can imagine life was not too easy as the two parents and their six children were living in four rooms. According to the 1911 census, the children were all in school at that time, even William Junior, then aged 14. But he does not appear on the admission registers of the Foster School like his two brothers, who were admitted in 1908. He probably went to primary school in Plumstead and attended the upper school in Welling. The sisters may have gone to another school.
Young William enlisted in Bexleyheath soon after he turned 18. His photograph shows a very young look with strong determination in his eyes. He served in the 1/7th battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers as Private No 7139. His Regiment landed in France in April 1915. A month later, it became part of the 149th Brigade of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
William Alfred Janes was killed in action after only 7 months of service, on the 6th November 1916, near Flers on the Somme. It is where the tanks were used for the first time on the battlefield on 15th September 1916.
The War Diary of the Northumberland Fusiliers states: “On 6th November at High Wood, at 4am 2nd Lieutenant Shanley took a party of 100 men to bear stretchers. Lieutenant Young took another 50 men at mid-day. 100 were withdrawn at midnight and the remaining 50 worked all night under Mr Young. The Field Ambulance complemented the Battalion on the excellent work done in getting casualties to the rear under fire. 3 men were killed and 9 were wounded. The remainder of the Battalion were working all day for Engineers on roads etc. in pouring rain.”
Young William Janes was one of the 3 men killed that day. He was 19. His medal card shows he received the Victory and the British medals.
William Alfred Janes’ obituary appeared in the Bexley Heath Bexley District Times and Dartford Chronicle dated 8th December 1916. It does not name his parents, only giving their address, 6, Springfield Road, Welling. It simply says he “was greatly respected by all those who knew him”.
It is worth noting that the surname JANES kept being misspelt on many official records. His service records did not survive the Blitz. On Soldiers Died in the Great War, he is listed under JAMES (with an M)… a common mistake even found on the East Wickham War Memorial Committee minutes, but then someone, knowing the family or at least their proper name, had corrected the typed mistake by hand. But at a national level, there was no one to correct the misspelling and Private JAMES William A, No 7139 of the Northumberland Fusiliers became the norm: in the GRO war deaths index for 1914-1921 (where he is entered twice, not to alter the surname but to add the Christian name in place of the initials W.A.), on the CWGC Roll of Honour now online, even on Thiepval memorial…
The CWGC changed their listing in late 2013 and will in due time correct the name on the Thiepval Memorial when the panel commemorating Pte Janes is next taken down for renovation.
At last a proper tribute to a very young boy who did his duty for his country.
Commemorated
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This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to William Alfred Janes, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.