Nix, James

BORN HULL 1898. SECOND SON OF CHARLES FRANCIS NIX (1869-1957) & ANNIE MALTSON RHOADES (1871-1932), OF 15, EAST STREET, DRYPOOL, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). HE HAD TWO BROTHERS AND EIGHT SISTERS.

BEFORE THE WAR HE WORKED AS A RIVETT HEATER, AT EARLES SHIPYARD, HULL. HE ENLISTED IN HULL, IN 1914 AGED ONLY 17 YEARS OLD.  POSTED TO FRANCE ON 17/04/1915. WOUNDED 26/09/1916. INAVLIDED TO ENGLAND UNTIL 18/01/1917, WHEN HE REJOINED HIS REGIMENT IN FRANCE. PROMOTED TO CORPORAL IN THE 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, WAS KILLED IN ACTION, ON 27/05/1918, AGED 21. HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE SOISSONS MEMORIAL, FRANCE.

HIS NAME IS ON ST MARY’S CHURCH MEMORIAL, LOWGATE, WITH HIS BROTHER. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 23/07/1919. *
HIS ELDEST BROTHER, SERGEANT, CHARLES JOHN NIX, MM, 11TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, WAS KILLED IN ACTION, ON 29/09/1918, AGED 28. HE HAD BEEN AWARDED THE MILITARY MEDAL, AT OPPY WOOD, FOR BRAVERY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY.

HIS BROTHER IN LAW, DRIVER, H. BINKS, WHO HAD SERVED FOR THREE YEARS AND TWO MONTHS IN FRANCE, RETURNED TO ENGLAND IN OCTOBER 1918 AND DIED ON ARMISTICE DAY FROM INFLUENZA. A BROTHER WHO HAD SERVED WITH THE 11TH HUSSARS HAD JUST BEEN DE-MOBILIZED. TWO MORE BROTHER IN LAWS WERE SERVING.

1/4^th East Yorkshire Battalion War Diary – 27^th May 1918

When the storm of gas and High Explosive shells broke over the 50^th Division, at 1am, on 27 May 1918, the 1/4^th East Yorkshire Regiment of the 150^th Brigade (the left Battalion, of the left Brigade of the Division) were disposed as follows: “A” Company held the front line,  “B” Company was in close support in Trench Falais (in CRONNE, at the disposal of the 5^th Green Howards (on the right of the 1/4^th EYR), “D” Company was in support in Marais. For two and half hours the Tornado swept the whole divisional area, causing many casualties and practically destroying the Trenches. The 1/4^th EYR was completely disorganised and rear guard actions were fought back to the River Aisne and the Bridge at Maizy, “the number which succeeded in crossing being very small.” Total strength of the 1/4^th EYR was 4 Officers and 105 Other Ranks, out of 30 Officers and 642 Other Ranks, which began, before the attack. The Battle continued until 6^th June 1918, but the 1/4^th  EYR took no further part after the 27^th May and retired to Vert La Gravelle.