James Tainsh Payne

A Private with the 1st Battalion, James died on 11th of July 1944 aged 20.

James was born on 18 September 1923, a son of Charles Frederick and Catherine Hunter Payne. His birth was registered in the Woodbridge district and in 1921 his family had lived at 8 Bredfield Street, Woodfield. By 1939 they were living at 42 Salisbury Road, Lowestoft, and James worked in the stores at a motor vehicle body builder.

James enlisted in the Royal Norfolk Regiment and was then transferred to the East Lancashire Regiment and served with the 1st Battalion in France.

On 25 June 1944 the 1st Battalion landed at Normandy. On 10 July the battalion moved to front line positions at Grainville-sur-Odon. From late on 10 July the enemy mortared the battalion’s positions, and this mortar fire continued throughout July 11th. James was killed in action.