Sergeant James Paulson Royal Army Medical Corps
1914-15 Star. War Medal 1914-18. Victory Medal.
The Man James Paulson was born on Wednesday 16th September 1885 at 7 Henry Street, Newton, Manchester, son of James senior, a Bill Poster and Louisa nee Cadman. He was baptised at St Jude’s, Ancoats on 11th October and one of three children, Florence born in 1886 and Louisa 1889.
Sadly, James senior died at sometime between 1889 and 1891 aged only in his 20s, as the 1891 census shows the family, with Louisa as the head and widowed at just 29 years old, living at 45 Cross Street together with her Father Richard Cadman.
By 1901 James, aged 15 was living with his sister Louisa at a relative’s house, Thomas Hollingworth, at 155 Cobden Street and he, having finished school working as a Clerk. By 1911 James is still a Clerk working for the Municipal Drainage company and living as a boarder at 10 Hanbury Street.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, James aged 28 was living at 3 Hawkeshead Road Chatham and enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps Territorial Force with service number 349, later 352161 and attested on 1st September 1914, when he was descried as 5’.4 ¾” tall, with a 34” girth, sufficient vision and a fair physical development.
Following his training James embarked at Southampton for service in Theatre 2B in the Balkans, leaving the Uk on 12th September landing in Alexandria, Egypt on 25th, leaving on 1st July 1915 heading to Gallipoli landing on 5th and promoted to Corporal the same day, serving until 11th January 1916, two days after the formal end of the campaign and returning to Egypt. There he remained until 22nd February 1917 when he sailed for the Western Front as part of the British Expeditionary Force landing at Marseilles on 1st March and having moved north serving in France for the remainder of the war with the 1/3 East Lancashire Field Ambulance.
Whilst on leave during, James married Annie Nicholls on Tuesday 10th April 1917 in the Parish Church, Harperhey, their address was given as 12 Alfred Street, Harpurhey and they had two children, Geoffrey born nine months later on 5th January 1918 and Dorothy Beryl born in 1921.
James survived the horrors of both Gallipoli and the Western Front and was discharged from the Army on 17th February 1919 and awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal. The 1921 census shows him and his family living at 18 Westbourne Grove, Manchester and he was employed as a Municipal Clerk in the Public Health Department of the Manchester Corporation, seemingly having returned to his pre-war employment.
By 1939 James and Annie were living at 34 Homeshead Crescent and he still employed as Municipal Clerk. James passed away at the same address on 24th May 1951 aged 66.
Sadly, James senior died at sometime between 1889 and 1891 aged only in his 20s, as the 1891 census shows the family, with Louisa as the head and widowed at just 29 years old, living at 45 Cross Street together with her Father Richard Cadman.
By 1901 James, aged 15 was living with his sister Louisa at a relative’s house, Thomas Hollingworth, at 155 Cobden Street and he, having finished school working as a Clerk. By 1911 James is still a Clerk working for the Municipal Drainage company and living as a boarder at 10 Hanbury Street.
At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, James aged 28 was living at 3 Hawkeshead Road Chatham and enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps Territorial Force with service number 349, later 352161 and attested on 1st September 1914, when he was descried as 5’.4 ¾” tall, with a 34” girth, sufficient vision and a fair physical development.
Following his training James embarked at Southampton for service in Theatre 2B in the Balkans, leaving the Uk on 12th September landing in Alexandria, Egypt on 25th, leaving on 1st July 1915 heading to Gallipoli landing on 5th and promoted to Corporal the same day, serving until 11th January 1916, two days after the formal end of the campaign and returning to Egypt. There he remained until 22nd February 1917 when he sailed for the Western Front as part of the British Expeditionary Force landing at Marseilles on 1st March and having moved north serving in France for the remainder of the war with the 1/3 East Lancashire Field Ambulance.
Whilst on leave during, James married Annie Nicholls on Tuesday 10th April 1917 in the Parish Church, Harperhey, their address was given as 12 Alfred Street, Harpurhey and they had two children, Geoffrey born nine months later on 5th January 1918 and Dorothy Beryl born in 1921.
James survived the horrors of both Gallipoli and the Western Front and was discharged from the Army on 17th February 1919 and awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal. The 1921 census shows him and his family living at 18 Westbourne Grove, Manchester and he was employed as a Municipal Clerk in the Public Health Department of the Manchester Corporation, seemingly having returned to his pre-war employment.
By 1939 James and Annie were living at 34 Homeshead Crescent and he still employed as Municipal Clerk. James passed away at the same address on 24th May 1951 aged 66.
James Paulson's World War I Mdal Index Card showing award of the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals and his entry to the Balkans on 5th October 1915.
Medal Details:
- 1914- 15 Star: 349. PTE.J.PAULSON. R.A.M.C.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 349 A.CPL.J.PAULSON. R.A.M.C.
- Victory Medal: 349 A.CPL.J.PAULSON. R.A.M.C.
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This page last updated 29 Jun 25
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