Soldier Record

A report from the Peterborough Advertiser on 5th June 1915

A Peterborough DCM

"The gazetting of acting Sgt. Major James Amour, 47 Hankey Street, Peterborough, of the 2nd Northamptonshire regiment, has been awarded the DCM for Conspicuous Gallentry at Neuve Capelle on March 19th, is of melancholy interest, for this week the official news has come of his death on 9th May in the Battle of Aubers Ridge. The gallant young fellow was only 24 years old, but by sheer merit he had won his way remarkably quickly, and as acting CSM, when his officers had all fallen he handled his men with great ability, against a heavy counter attack by the enemy. For this the DCM was awarded, the men of the company took a tremendous pride in this honour done to their sergeant, but on 9th May while he and an officer were crossing a bridge, a German machine gun was trained on them, and they were killed."

"He had been in the army for 7 years. he was a scholar of St. Marks School, Gladstone Street, and when 15 years old went to messers Barfords and Perkins foundry for a short time, but soon went to New England Loco sheds as an engine cleaner. At 17 he enlisted first as a Special Reservist and than later in the 2nd Northamptonshire regiment, training at the depot then going for 2 years to Malta and Egypt, being recalled last November, he came home for 48 hours before proceeding to the front, and said farwell to his Father who was then on his death bed. He has an elder brother serving in India, Driver Herbert Amour of the 91st Battery, RFA, who has been in the army for 12 years. While in Egypt, CMS Amour became engaged to a lady who was a nurse in a gentlemans family in Cairo."

Both James and his brother Herbert are commemorated on the Roll of Honour in St. Marks Church, Peterborough