James Robinson enlisted at Chorley on the 21st September 1914 and was wounded during the attack at Serre on the 1st July 1916. It must not have been too serious as the Chorley Guardian dated 5th August 1916 reported that he had been wounded in the head on the 22nd July whilst attached to a Trench Mortar Battery.
James was wounded for a third time on the 27th June 1917, receiving severe wounds to his chest, back, neck and wrist whilst in the trenches at Oppy Wood. He was treated initially at the 26th General Hospital at Etaples on the French coast, eventually being discharged from the Army on the 17th June 1918.
A married man, he lived at 10 Bedford Street in Chorley and had been employed by Chorley Corporation as a Gas Inspector; James was also a bell-ringer at St. Laurence’s Church.
Other Information: The Chorley Pals (or at least what was left of them) were at Aubers Ridge east of Neuve Chapelle from the 15th to the 24th July 1916; on the 27th June 1917 they attacked trenches near Oppy Wood in the Arras sector.
