James Noel's Story.
Private James Noel Griffiths, 34692, of the South Wales Borderers and the Cheshire Regiment, was the younger of two brothers from Altrincham to lose their lives in 1916. Aged 23, he was killed in action on the Somme on 24th August 1916.
James was born at Newtown, Kerry, Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales in 1893, the son of William Griffiths and Margaret nee Mayor. He was one of eleven children, and brother to Susannah Mary (1876–1962), Edward (1879–1970), Sarah (born 1882) , Margaret (born 1883), David William (1885–1961), Clara Elizabeth (born 1887), John 1889, Henry (1891–1916), George Arthur (born 1897) and William Maurice (1903–1994).
In 1901, the family home was The Smithy, Leighton, Montgomeryshire, Wales. By 1911, the family had moved to The Nook, Dunham Town, Altrincham, where his father William worked as a woodman. James was employed as a labourer prior to enlisting at Stockport into the 3rd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment on 5th February 1916. He was posted to the Barracks at Chester before joining his battalion at Birkenhead.
The 3rd Battalion embarked for France on 20th July 1916, joining No 4 Infantry Base Depot at Rouen, and on 21st July 1916 was posted to the 9th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, which was on the Somme attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division.
James was then among a number of drafts for the battalion to be attached to the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which was also on the Somme attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division. James joined the battalion at Millencourt, where it was reorganising after heavy fighting at Bazentin Ridge and High Wood. After about three weeks’ rest, the 1st Division moved back into the line between Bazentin-le-Petit Wood and High Wood on 15th August and the 1st SWB took over positions in reserve in Becourt Wood. On 20th August the 3rd Brigade took over the Divisional front line and the 1st SWB took up positions in OG1, an Old German trench running North and South due west of Bazentin-le-Petit Wood.
The battalion suffered several barrages of mixed artillery and gas shells over the following days. On 24th August 1916, James was killed by artillery fire. He was 23 years old. James has no known grave but is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
His elder brother, Henry Griffiths, died a month later of accidental injuries sustained whilst serving with the ASO in a munitions site in April 1916. Henry’s body was returned to his home town of Kerry in Wales, and his headstone is also inscribed with James’ name.
The brothers' inscription on the grave in Kerry
Information compiled by Shena Lewington (August 2026)
James was born at Newtown, Kerry, Montgomeryshire, Powys, Wales in 1893, the son of William Griffiths and Margaret nee Mayor. He was one of eleven children, and brother to Susannah Mary (1876–1962), Edward (1879–1970), Sarah (born 1882) , Margaret (born 1883), David William (1885–1961), Clara Elizabeth (born 1887), John 1889, Henry (1891–1916), George Arthur (born 1897) and William Maurice (1903–1994).
In 1901, the family home was The Smithy, Leighton, Montgomeryshire, Wales. By 1911, the family had moved to The Nook, Dunham Town, Altrincham, where his father William worked as a woodman. James was employed as a labourer prior to enlisting at Stockport into the 3rd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment on 5th February 1916. He was posted to the Barracks at Chester before joining his battalion at Birkenhead.
The 3rd Battalion embarked for France on 20th July 1916, joining No 4 Infantry Base Depot at Rouen, and on 21st July 1916 was posted to the 9th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, which was on the Somme attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division.
James was then among a number of drafts for the battalion to be attached to the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which was also on the Somme attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division. James joined the battalion at Millencourt, where it was reorganising after heavy fighting at Bazentin Ridge and High Wood. After about three weeks’ rest, the 1st Division moved back into the line between Bazentin-le-Petit Wood and High Wood on 15th August and the 1st SWB took over positions in reserve in Becourt Wood. On 20th August the 3rd Brigade took over the Divisional front line and the 1st SWB took up positions in OG1, an Old German trench running North and South due west of Bazentin-le-Petit Wood.
The battalion suffered several barrages of mixed artillery and gas shells over the following days. On 24th August 1916, James was killed by artillery fire. He was 23 years old. James has no known grave but is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
His elder brother, Henry Griffiths, died a month later of accidental injuries sustained whilst serving with the ASO in a munitions site in April 1916. Henry’s body was returned to his home town of Kerry in Wales, and his headstone is also inscribed with James’ name.
The brothers' inscription on the grave in Kerry
Information compiled by Shena Lewington (August 2026)