First World War officer from the Cheshire Regiment and two unknown soldiers laid to rest in France

Second Lieutenant James Arthur Greenhalgh who worked as a school teacher and played for Bolton Wanderers Football Club has finally been laid to rest in France along with two unknown soldiers, nearly 110 years after his death.

James, an officer of the 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment was buried with full military honours in a service organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) at the CWGC Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner near Neuve-Chapelle on 22 May 2024.

Rosie Barron, (JCCC) said:
“It has been an honour to have worked with The Mercian Regiment, which today recruits from Cheshire, to organise the burial of 2nd Lt Greenhalgh and these two unknown soldiers, and to have played a part in the identification of 2nd Lt Greenhalgh. Although two of these men were sadly not identifiable, the Greenhalgh family now have answers as to what happened to their relative and he now rests in Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner alongside his comrades.”

The coffin of 2nd Lt Greenhalgh was carried by serving soldiers of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment. (Crown Copyright)

The service was attended by members of 2nd Lt Greenhalgh’s family. His great niece, Joanna Potts, was unable to attend the service, but placed a personal inscription on behalf of the family on his headstone.

 Joanna Potts, great niece of 2ndLt Greenhalgh said:
“Hearing my Great Uncle had finally been found after all this time, has been an unexpected and surprisingly emotional time. We are so grateful that he will now be laid to rest and commemorated for the sacrifice he gave for us all.”

The coffin of 2nd Lt Greenhalgh was carried through the cemetery by serving soldiers of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment and the service was conducted by the Rev Gary Birch CF, Chaplain to 19 Regiment Royal Artillery.

The coffin of 2nd Lt Greenhalgh is lowered onto the grave. (Crown Copyright)

Rev Birch said:
“I have officiated at a number of WW1 burials of both known and unknown service personnel, and each one is special and important in their own right. Being able to honour them and finally show them the proper dignity and respect they deserve reminds us of the fragility of life and gives us an opportunity to pause, reflect and learn the lessons of past conflict.”

The graves of 2nd Lt Greenhalgh and two unknown soldiers will now be cared for in perpetuity by the CWGC in France.

Colonel Paul Bedford lays a wreath at the graveside on behalf of the British Embassy. (Crown Copyright)

Xavier Puppinck, Director for the France Area at the CWGC, said:
“We are honoured to have played our part in helping to lay these exceptionally brave men to rest, more than 110 years after they put their lives on the line in Violaines. “It is our privilege and duty to care for their graves at Guard Cemetery, in perpetuity.”

Second Lieutenant James Arthur Greenhalgh

 2nd Lt Greenhalgh (copyright unknown), the family of 2Lt Greenhalgh at his graveside (Crown Copyright)

James Arthur Greenhalgh was born in Bolton, Lancashire, on 5 May 1889. He was one of five children born to Joseph Greenhalgh and his wife Hannah.

James began studying at Manchester University in 1907. He achieved a BA in 1910, a Teachers Certificate Class II in 1910, and an MA in Philology (the study of language in oral and written historic sources) in 1912. He had been a member of the Officer Training Corps whilst at university. James was appointed as a Classics Master at Thame Grammar School before moving on to the grammar school in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Just before the outbreak of the First World War he was appointed as the Secretary of the International Textile Institute. James was also a keen amateur footballer and had played for Bolton Wanderers.

On 6 August 1914, 2nd Lt Greenhalgh was Commissioned into 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment, having been held on the Reserve of Officers, and joined his battalion in Birkenhead. He arrived with the battalion in France on 7 September 1914. The battalion took part in the Battle of the Aisne and fighting around Festubert.

James was killed on 22 October 1914 in the village of Violaines. At 5:30 hours the enemy attacked the Cheshire's positions on the outskirts of the village. The alarm was raised by a patrol from D Company, but their trenches were rushed before they could resist and bayonet fighting ensued.

The entire battalion was forced to retire with six Officers and 209 other ranks missing, many of whom were taken prisoner. 2nd Lt Greenhalgh was reported later to have been in the trenches and to have been shot in the head. He was 25 years old. 

His men were unable to recover him and, after the enemy had captured the village, a Serjeant of The Norfolk Regiment was taken by a German Officer to the location where 2nd Lt Greenhalgh had fallen and allowed to bury his body.

After the war no trace of 2nd Lt Greenhalgh’s grave was found, and as he was listed as missing. He was commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial. In 2020, the remains of three soldiers were found on the outskirts of Violaines during the construction of a new housing estate. Although two of the soldiers had no artefacts on them which would lead to their identification, one was believed to have been an Officer of The Cheshire Regiment. After DNA testing, this casualty was identified as 2nd Lt Greenhalgh.