James Parker's Story.
Second-Lieutenant James Parker Storrs was the son of Councillor James Storrs and Amy Storrs of Fern Bank, Stalybridge.
James was a highly educated young man. He attended Dinglewood School, Colwyn Bay, Victoria University, Manchester, and Clare College, Cambridge, gaining degrees in law. He intended to pursue a career at the Bar and had been articled to Mr Robert Innes, J.P., solicitor of Stalybridge and Manchester.
When war broke out, James was anxious to serve, although he was still preparing for his final examination. In May 1917, once his examination was over, he joined the 6th Cheshires and was commissioned and attached to the 13th Cheshires. He arrived in France on 5 July 1917. The 13th Battalion moved into the line on the Bellewarrde Ridge on Sunday 5 August relieving the 9th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. The following day James was wounded
A letter from Rev. E. Hill, chaplain to the forces in France, described his final hours. James had been wounded in the chest and taken to hospital. During the night he asked the chaplain to write to his family. They prayed together, and James received Holy Communion.
“He is restless but has no pain. We must leave him to God, having done all we can.” James died on 8 August 1917, aged 26.
Newspaper accounts paints a picture of a much-loved young man, a keen sportsman, cricket and football player, and captain of both teams at Dinglewood School. He was described as happy and breezy in character and as someone who had earned the respect of those around him.
Two other brothers also served. George Bertam Storrs (Bert) had originally joined the Cheshire Yeomanry as a trooper and had gone to Exeter to prepare for a commission. His younger brother, Second-Lieutenant Thomas Entwistle Storrs of the 6th Cheshires, had first joined the Public-School Boys' Battalion at Heaton Park. He too had already been to France twice and had been wounded on each occasion.
At a meeting of the Town Council, the Mayor expressed the Council's deepest sympathy to Councillor and Mrs Storrs and their family. He spoke of the community's sorrow at the death of James, describing him as a very fine young fellow who had been well educated and was preparing for his final examination when war intervened.
The Mayor recalled how James had enlisted and then gone to France, where, almost immediately, he had been sent to the front line.
He had been in the trenches for only a few days before being brought back with a very serious wound, which ultimately proved fatal.