James joined the Northumberland Fusiliers shortly after the outbreak of war and went to France on January 10 1916. The local paper (Yorkshire), the Craven Herald reported on September 1 1916:
“FRYER – Formerly reported missing, now reported killed, Second-Lieutenant J. Whaley Fryer, Northumberland Fusiliers, only son of the late Major Fryer, Hawes.”
The same issue included:
“HAWES – MISSING OFFICER NOW REPORTED KILLED
Second-Lieutenant J. Whaley Fryer, Northumberland Fusiliers, only son of the late Major Fryer, Rookhurst, Hawes, and Mrs. Fryer, Moorside, Fenham, Newcastle, who was reported missing in the big push in July, is now reported killed. Mrs. Fryer has received the following letter from the captain commanding the company:-
“Whaley was in my Company, and I have been informed by some of the men in the Company that they saw him fall. It is very sad, but I am afraid he was killed; he fell just after he got over the top of the parapet. He was very well liked by all the men and also got on well with all the officers in the Battalion.”
He was apparently killed by a shell as he climbed over the trench parapet attacking La Boiselle. A file in the National Archives says he was seen with both his legs shot off, before noon. He cannot have lived very long after that.
His effects amounted to £605 0s 3d.
James was commemorated at Thiepval, but also on the family gravestone in St. Margaret’s Churchyard, Hawes, Giggleswick School War Memorial, Panels and a private memorial in St. Margaret’s Church, Hawes as well as the Carlisle grammar school war memorial.
