James Alfred Dutton was born in Failsworth, Lancashire in 1891 and lived at 320 Oldham Road and at 13 Mona Street until at least 1911. All told there were 12 children of whom 4 died young. Their father was a joiner by trade and the children, after schooling, worked in the cotton mills. James was a cotton piecer in 1911 and described as a spinner on his attestation. Their mother, Frances, was from Oswestry and returned to live at Canal View, Crickheath sometime after 1911. James however remained in Failsworth living at 4 Roman Road.

James enlisted in January 1915 in Manchester, joining the Royal Scots Territorials and reporting to Edinburgh. The battalion soon went to Egypt, arriving at Alexandria on 15 September 1915. Soon after arrival James began to show symptoms of dysentery and was admitted to the 5th Canadian General Hospital in Egypt. He spent 5 weeks there but his condition did not improve and he was sent back to England. He arrived back at the end of October 1915 and was admitted to Reading Military Hospital. He was given various treatments including an appendectomy and abdominal lavages but his condition did not improve. He became emaciated and weak and he went steadily downhill.

James died of dysentery complicated by pneumonia and exhaustion on 25 January 1917. His body was returned to Oswestry for burial. He is also commemorated on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial, Oswestry.

Acknowledgements.

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