Selmes, James

James Selmes

Rank: Sapper

Regiment: Royal Engineers

Wife: Mrs Selmes

Brother-in-Law: Charles Lewis Goodsell

Address: River Hall, Mountfield, Robertsbridge

Other Info: ‘A Narrow Escape’ reads: “… had a very narrow escape while on his way to Gallipoli. He was on HMS Hythe, which was in collision with another ship in the Aegean Sea on 28th October 1915. He was in the water some time (his brother-in-law C Goodsell lost his life), but was rescued. After a rest he resumed his journey, and he stayed in Gallipoli until the evacuation of the Dardanelles. From there he went to Egypt, and now lies in hospital suffering with fever. He has 14 nephews serving his country (one having been killed and two wounded), one brother–in-law drowned, one brother and a brother-in-law with one of the Derby groups.

Published: March 1916

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  • James’ grandfather was William Henry Selmes. WH had 5 sisters and a brother.
    One of the sisters was Maria Elcey Selmes, my great grandmother. Maria married George Massey Saunders of Lyndhurst, and they had 4 sons and 4 daughters. One of the daughters was my grandmother Elcey Elizabeth Saunders.
    Two of her brothers also died in WW1
    Charles Sidney Saunders was in 1st Batallion Royal Marines, and died at Passchendale 26 Oct 1917. Commemorated on the 1st wall panel at Tyne Cott memorial:
    Name: SAUNDERS, CHARLES SYDNEY
    Initials: C S
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Private
    Regiment: Royal Marine Light Infantry
    Unit Text: 1st R.M. Bn. R.N. Div.
    Age: 34
    Date of Death: 26/10/1917
    Service No: CH/881(S)
    Additional information: Son of George Massey Saunders, of 69, St. Mary’s Rd., Watford, Herts., and the late Maria Elcey Saunders.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 1 and 162A
    Cemetery: TYNE COT MEMORIAL
    Cemetery Details:
    Country: Belgium
    Locality: Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen

    Her baby brother Archie died of malaria in Palestine:
    Name: SAUNDERS, ARCHIBALD
    Initials: A
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Gunner
    Regiment: Royal Field Artillery
    Unit Text: 8th Bde. H.Q.
    Age: 26
    Date of Death: 15/09/1918
    Service No: 146432
    Additional information: Son of George and Maria Elcey Saunders, of 69, St. Mary’s Rd., Watford, Herts.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: CC. 40.
    Cemetery: RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY
    Regards
    Phil How

  • Hi Phil, thank you for providing this interesting information - it really adds to the story. If you have photographs of the men named above, and are happy to do so, please send them over to me (via the Contact Me page) and I'll add them to the website. Kind regards, Kieron.

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