Friday 26 June 2015

Eastwood, James - Private (29159)

(No soldier photo available)
Royal Army Medical Corps,
Died at sea on the S.S. "Lancashire" whilst on his way home 5th November 1919 and was buried at sea on 6th November 1919.
Age 34
Now commemorated Hollybrook Memorial Southampton


Newspaper Report:

1)  Mrs. Eastwood, of Syke Street, Haslingden, has suffered a sad  bereavement by the death of her husband, Private James Eastwood, R.A.M.C., whilst on the steamship, Lancashire on his way home from the Eastern campaign.  Private Eastwood, who was about thirty, was one of the young men of the Haslingden Ambulance Corps who answered the call of the country immediately upon the outbreak of war.  he had not been home for a long time, and his wife was looking forward to his return.  There are two children, one of whom the father had never seen.  Private Eastwood was a mill operative before the war, and he attended Haslingden Congregational Chapel.  He had been attached to the 22nd Stationary Hospital. 

2)  A service in memoriam of the late Private James Eastwood,R.A.M.C., who, at the age of 34, died on the steamship Lancashire on November 5th whilst on his way home, was held at Haslingden Congregational Chapel on Sunday evening, and was attended by the Haslingden Ambulance Corps, of which deceased was a member.  There were suitable hymns, and at the close of the service Mr. Cyril Law played the "Dead March."  Rev. L.R Ellis, M.A., the pastor, said he did not know the deceased personally, but he learned that he was a man of high character and a good husband and father.  For the last few years of his life he had been engaged in administering to the needs of those who had been wounded and broken in the war.  He rendered these services as something more than a duty, and almost all his services carried with them the odour of love.  He gained the commendation of his superiors and the gratitude and affection of his patients, some of whom wrote to him to say how much they missed him.  Mr. Ellis went on to say that lately a good many people had been more interested than ever before on the question of immortality.  They felt that the lives of many young lads taken off in the full strength of manhood could not have finished.  It was well to bear in mind that the case for immortality was proved largely by the fact of relationship to God.  As sons of God they could not imagine that the love of God would allow a life to slip off into nothing.  Jesus said, "Come until me, all ye that are heavy laden," and it was only by taking life as Jesus took it that we felt the full assurance that God is behind everything and would sustain us.

Newspaper Memorial:

In loving memory of 29159 Private James Eastwood, R.A.M.C. who died at sea on the S.S. Lancashire on November 5th, 1919, and was buried at sea, November 6th in his 34th year.

"Christ shall clasp the broken chain still closes
when we meet again in the better land"
"One of the best."

From his Wife and Children.

"We pictured his safe returning,
We longed to clasp his hand,
But God postponed the meeting,
Till we meet in the better land.

Upright and just in all his ways,
Faithful and true to the end of his days;
Forgotten to the world by some he may be,
But dear to our memory he always will be."

From his loving Brother Ernest and sister in law Alice and nieces Ada and ivy, 12 Coal Hey.


Pte James Eastwood - Census information - (Click over to enlarge)