Arthur James's Story.
Arthur was born in the early part of 1888 in South Manchester area. By 1911, he was living in the Stockport area and married Bessie Thomas at All Saint's Church, Heaton Norris. He must have volunteered for the army very soon after War was declared and was assigned to 207th Company of the Army Service Corps. This unit had only just been formed, in December 1914, and was probably still in training. Its eventual role would be as a "Reserve Park Company", fulfilling a variety of back-up supplies roles in the rear areas. Arthur died of natural causes (or an accident unconnected with his military service) before training was complete. As had died in Britain, his body could have been returned to Stockport for burial, but this would have been at Bessie's expense. Presumably she couldn't afford it. After the War, she was living at 47 Wood Street, Stockport. It's not known if this is the home she shared with Arthur.