The Batty family

James’s father, James Henry Batty, was born 1842 in Barnsley Yorkshire and joined the army serving in the Army Hospital Corps. He was stationed in Woolwich and married a Woolwich girl, Harriet Matilda Stokes in 1866.

Harriet and James had two children, Harriet Matilda in 1870 and James Henry Daniel in 1872, the father died 1872, the same year as his son was born serving in Malta, a Sergeant aged 40

James Henry Daniel Batty
Born 27 May 1872 in Woolwich, James also joined the Army enlisting in the Royal Artillery 16 Apr 1890 aged 18. 5’ 9’’ with light brown hair and blue eyes. James (service number 78899) signed up for 7 years with 5 years in the reserve but actually served for 27 years ending during ww1 in 1917.
James served in the UK and overseas in Gibraltar, Malta and India, during ww1 he was stationed at Rawalpindi in India with the 94th Company Royal Garrison Artillery, his total overseas service was just under 10 years. For his service he only earned 2 medals, the long service and good conduct, awarded 1908 and the ww1 British war medal.

His service was exemplary, his records state ‘thoroughly trustworthy, reliable and hardworking, a well-educated man’, in 1918 he was put forward as a candidate for the Meritorious Service medal but its unknown if he was successful.

James H.D Batty married Alice Louisa Keeble in Jan 1893 in Woolwich, they had 3 children Amy Alice in 1893, May Florence 1894 and James Henry 1908.

After his army service, in 1921 he applied for the position of branch manager of the Leiston Suffolk employment office and was living at Mill house, Theberton, Suffolk the home town of his wife.

After retirement around 1935 he moved back to Plumstead.
The 1939 register shows James, his wife and son all living at 16 Barden Road, Plumstead.

James, his wife Alice and his son James Henry were all victims of the German air force Blitz during WW2. On the night of 17th Nov 1940 , the daughters (Amy and May) were married and living elsewhere but James, Alice and son James Henry were all at home at 16 Barden St, Plumstead. The house took a direct hit and all three were killed in the blast

James and Alice were retired, James junior was an examiner of Naval ordnance, Woolwich depot/

The executer of the will was the daughter May Florence.
 
Today the land occupied by 16 and 17 Barden Street has rebuilt housing on it

Nigel Shipp