Private James Leonard Wearn (5386976), 7th Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
James Leonard Wearn 1914 - 1943
Summary
James Wearn was born in Southwark, London on Friday August 21st 1914 to James Henry Wearn and Annie Mary Luker, Annie was a Great Coxwell girl born here in 1881. James signed up, on 20th June 1940, joining the 50th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, later redesignated 7th Battalion. James died on 27th September 1943 age 29 and is buried at the Salerno War Cemetery in Italy.
Many thanks to Robbie Burns for doing all the detailed military history research for James Wearn.
Service
Robbie Burns spoke about James at the Remembrance Service on 9th November 2025, as follows:
James Leonard Wearn
This Remembrance Day, I would like to focus for a brief few minutes on one of the names that appear on the memorial in front of us, James Leonard Wearn, who died on 27th September 1943.
My thanks to Gavin Anderson for his tenacious research. And thanks to Mike Durham, for James Wearn was his uncle, and to Brenda Haskins, whose mother Gillian married James on 27th April 1940. After James’ death, Gillian remarried. In 1948 she married Albert Rixon, Brenda’s father.
James was born in Southwark, London on 21st August 1914. His mother, Annie, was a Great Coxwell girl, born here in 1881.
His father, James Henry Wearn was killed on 31st July 1917 during the 3rd battle of Ypres and is commemorated at the Menin Memorial Gate and on the memorial in Faringdon.
Annie remarried and James was brought up in the village at 1 Great Coxwell Council Houses, what we now know as Cherry Orchard. James was resourceful and hardworking. first as a gardener and later as a milk roundsman. He played cricket for All Saints Cricket Club and football for the North Berks Rovers team.
He joined up on 20th June 1940, and found himself in the 7th Battalion, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry…The ‘Ox and Bucks’. In 1941, he sailed with his Battalion to the Middle East. Brenda recalls her mother telling her that she waved him off as his ship left port, (probably Portsmouth). As he waved back he turned to his best mate Albert, from Stokenchurch and said, that’s the last time I will see Gillian. A foreboding premonition.
His Brigade, the 167th (London) Brigade, was held in reserve in Tunisia during the Sicily Campaign, but landed on 9th September 1943, day 1 of Operation Avalanche. The 7th battalion landed at 0445 hrs in the second wave.
The British and American landings were expected to be a walkover. The Italian political leadership had surrendered the Italian forces the day before. But unfortunately for the Allies, the Germans had anticipated that Salerno would be chosen for the landings, and 3 divisions of Panzer and Panzer Grenadier forces were waiting for them.
I mentioned that the Ox and Bucks were Light Infantry. This had nothing to do with the weight of their soldiers. But rather they were lightly equipped. Mostly foot soldiers with some light reconnaissance vehicles, a puny anti-tank capability, a squadron of Sherman tanks from the Scots Greys attached but no match for the tough, reliable, well protected and lethal Panzer Mk 3 and Mk 4s of 16 Panzer Division.
Jim Served in the Signals Platoon. Their role was to provide radio communications for the Commanding Officer and the battalion. He was fit and reliable, and would have been operating either an HF or VHF radio, possibly working closely with the Commanding Officers O Group. The Signals Platoon’s radios allowed the Commanding officer to talk to his forward companies, his brigade commander and his artillery Battery Commander to bring down artillery support and also naval gunfire support.
A gruelling battle took place, and it took 10 days for the Allies to get the better of the German forces defending the bay around Salerno. At one stage, on 13th September, the German Panzer Divisions nearly forced them back onto the beaches they had landed on 4 days previously. The US General, Mark Clark, during a crisis of confidence, considered withdrawing the force off the beaches, a view not held by the British General Sir Richard McCreery.
By 27th September, the Ox and Bucks were fighting their way North up route 88 at Baronissi. This was 18 days after the landings. James died that day, a day of heavy fighting in which his replacement commanding officer was also injured. Jim was 29 years old. He was initially buried in an isolated, shallow grave at Baronissi, 5 miles North of Salerno. He was later moved to one of two Commonwealth War Graves near the beachhead.
Let us take a moment to reflect on James and the other 10 names on our War memorial.
Biography
James Leonard Wearn was born in Southwark, London on Friday August 21st 1914 to James Henry Wearn and Annie Mary Luker, Annie was a Great Coxwell girl born here in 1881.
They were living in London at the time at 102 Walworth Road, and James was baptised on 21st September 1914 at Saint Matthew, Newington – the church was replaced in 1993.
Born just after the start of the First War, James’ life would be impacted by both wars which took a sad toll on the family.
James’ father James Henry Wearn was serving in the 18th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps – the Arts and Crafts Battalion.
Rifleman James Henry Wearn was killed in action in Belgium aged 21 on the 31st of July 1917 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres on Panel 53 and on the memorial in Faringdon.
He left behind his widow Annie, son James and daughter Kathleen who had been born in Southwark on the 21st of January 1916.
James’ mother Annie remarried in November 1919 at St Giles, wedding Percy Newport Akers – himself a decorated solider from the first war, winning the Military Medal in 1918 for “conspicuous bravery on the battlefield”.
So James and Kathleen were brought up by Annie and Percy and were joined by half-sister Nancy in 1920, they lived in Great Coxwell at what was described as 1 Great Coxwell Council Houses, in other words 1 Cherry Orchard.
By the 1921 census Percy and Annie were 28, James was 6, Kathleen was 5 and Nancy was 9 months old. Percy was working as a Carter for Mr A Gerring, who we assume is Arthur Gerring who later came to farm at Court House Farm.
The family grew up in Great Coxwell in that time between the wars as the country attempted to recover from the loss of so many in the first war, including James’ father.
James, Kathleen and Nancy were joined by Cyril in 1923 and Joyce in 1926.
Sadly Percy died in 1927 aged only 35, he was buried at St Giles on 1st of July 1927, Annie was widowed for a second time and James, Kathleen, Nancy, Cyril and Joyce lost their father.
However James was resourceful and hardworking, by 1932 we see him working as a garden boy, and was so appreciated that the Faringdon Advertiser carried this reference:
Mrs Hamilton highly recommends James Wearn (18) as garden boy. Very steady, been with her 4 years. Write James Wearn Council Cottages, Great Coxwell.
By the outbreak of the Second World War on September 1st 1939 the family were still living in Great Coxwell, National Registration Day was September 29th 1939 and the register shows:
Kathleen had married William John Durham in 1933 and they were living in Great Coxwell in 1939, William was an Overhead Electrical Engineer.
James met and married Gillian Bryan, they were married at Faringdon Congregational Church on 27th April 1940; Nancy and Gillian’s twin sister Joan were her attendants.
They were attired in dainty frocks of pink satin broché, embossed with lilies-of-the-valley, silver head-dresses and shoes to tone, and carried posies of lilies-of-the-valley.
Brother-in-law William was James’ best man, after the service they moved to a reception was held at the “Swan” Hotel.
We learn that James’ was for several years a member of the North Berks Rover Team, and also was a playing member of the All Saints’ Cricket Club.
It was only 8 weeks later that James signed up, on 20th June 1940, he joined the 50th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Following training, James, who was in No 3 Platoon (Signals) HQ Company, served in Palestine and Tunisia before joining the landings at Salerno, he died on the 27th of September 1943 near Baronissi and was buried in an isolated grave at Baronissi, 5 miles north of Salerno. His remains were later moved and reburied at Salerno Beachhead, Plot V, Row A, Grave 5.
The headstone is marked as follows:
IN EVERLOVING MEMORY AND WITH TREASURED MEMORIES OF MY DARLING HUSBAND
James’ sister Kathleen had 8 children including village resident Michael Durham, Kathleen died in 2000 aged 84.
After James’ death Gillian remarried, in 1948 she married Albert Rixon and their daughter Brenda (now Haskins) still lives in the village, Gillian died in 1979 aged 59 and is buried in the Faringdon Nonconformist Cemetery
In loving memory of a dear husband and dad Albert Rixon died Sept 29th 1956 aged 41 years
Gone but not forgotten
Also a dear mum and sister Gillian Rixon born 26.11.1919 died 12.2.1979.
Artefacts
Sources
http://www.lightbobs.com/7th-bn-oxf--bucks-li-1940-1945.html
https://www.sofo.org.uk/
James Wearn was born in Southwark, London on Friday August 21st 1914 to James Henry Wearn and Annie Mary Luker, Annie was a Great Coxwell girl born here in 1881. James signed up, on 20th June 1940, joining the 50th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, later redesignated 7th Battalion. James died on 27th September 1943 age 29 and is buried at the Salerno War Cemetery in Italy.
Many thanks to Robbie Burns for doing all the detailed military history research for James Wearn.
Service
Robbie Burns spoke about James at the Remembrance Service on 9th November 2025, as follows:
James Leonard Wearn
This Remembrance Day, I would like to focus for a brief few minutes on one of the names that appear on the memorial in front of us, James Leonard Wearn, who died on 27th September 1943.
My thanks to Gavin Anderson for his tenacious research. And thanks to Mike Durham, for James Wearn was his uncle, and to Brenda Haskins, whose mother Gillian married James on 27th April 1940. After James’ death, Gillian remarried. In 1948 she married Albert Rixon, Brenda’s father.
James was born in Southwark, London on 21st August 1914. His mother, Annie, was a Great Coxwell girl, born here in 1881.
His father, James Henry Wearn was killed on 31st July 1917 during the 3rd battle of Ypres and is commemorated at the Menin Memorial Gate and on the memorial in Faringdon.
Annie remarried and James was brought up in the village at 1 Great Coxwell Council Houses, what we now know as Cherry Orchard. James was resourceful and hardworking. first as a gardener and later as a milk roundsman. He played cricket for All Saints Cricket Club and football for the North Berks Rovers team.
He joined up on 20th June 1940, and found himself in the 7th Battalion, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry…The ‘Ox and Bucks’. In 1941, he sailed with his Battalion to the Middle East. Brenda recalls her mother telling her that she waved him off as his ship left port, (probably Portsmouth). As he waved back he turned to his best mate Albert, from Stokenchurch and said, that’s the last time I will see Gillian. A foreboding premonition.
His Brigade, the 167th (London) Brigade, was held in reserve in Tunisia during the Sicily Campaign, but landed on 9th September 1943, day 1 of Operation Avalanche. The 7th battalion landed at 0445 hrs in the second wave.
The British and American landings were expected to be a walkover. The Italian political leadership had surrendered the Italian forces the day before. But unfortunately for the Allies, the Germans had anticipated that Salerno would be chosen for the landings, and 3 divisions of Panzer and Panzer Grenadier forces were waiting for them.
I mentioned that the Ox and Bucks were Light Infantry. This had nothing to do with the weight of their soldiers. But rather they were lightly equipped. Mostly foot soldiers with some light reconnaissance vehicles, a puny anti-tank capability, a squadron of Sherman tanks from the Scots Greys attached but no match for the tough, reliable, well protected and lethal Panzer Mk 3 and Mk 4s of 16 Panzer Division.
Jim Served in the Signals Platoon. Their role was to provide radio communications for the Commanding Officer and the battalion. He was fit and reliable, and would have been operating either an HF or VHF radio, possibly working closely with the Commanding Officers O Group. The Signals Platoon’s radios allowed the Commanding officer to talk to his forward companies, his brigade commander and his artillery Battery Commander to bring down artillery support and also naval gunfire support.
A gruelling battle took place, and it took 10 days for the Allies to get the better of the German forces defending the bay around Salerno. At one stage, on 13th September, the German Panzer Divisions nearly forced them back onto the beaches they had landed on 4 days previously. The US General, Mark Clark, during a crisis of confidence, considered withdrawing the force off the beaches, a view not held by the British General Sir Richard McCreery.
By 27th September, the Ox and Bucks were fighting their way North up route 88 at Baronissi. This was 18 days after the landings. James died that day, a day of heavy fighting in which his replacement commanding officer was also injured. Jim was 29 years old. He was initially buried in an isolated, shallow grave at Baronissi, 5 miles North of Salerno. He was later moved to one of two Commonwealth War Graves near the beachhead.
Let us take a moment to reflect on James and the other 10 names on our War memorial.
Biography
James Leonard Wearn was born in Southwark, London on Friday August 21st 1914 to James Henry Wearn and Annie Mary Luker, Annie was a Great Coxwell girl born here in 1881.
They were living in London at the time at 102 Walworth Road, and James was baptised on 21st September 1914 at Saint Matthew, Newington – the church was replaced in 1993.
Born just after the start of the First War, James’ life would be impacted by both wars which took a sad toll on the family.
James’ father James Henry Wearn was serving in the 18th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps – the Arts and Crafts Battalion.
Rifleman James Henry Wearn was killed in action in Belgium aged 21 on the 31st of July 1917 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres on Panel 53 and on the memorial in Faringdon.
He left behind his widow Annie, son James and daughter Kathleen who had been born in Southwark on the 21st of January 1916.
James’ mother Annie remarried in November 1919 at St Giles, wedding Percy Newport Akers – himself a decorated solider from the first war, winning the Military Medal in 1918 for “conspicuous bravery on the battlefield”.
So James and Kathleen were brought up by Annie and Percy and were joined by half-sister Nancy in 1920, they lived in Great Coxwell at what was described as 1 Great Coxwell Council Houses, in other words 1 Cherry Orchard.
By the 1921 census Percy and Annie were 28, James was 6, Kathleen was 5 and Nancy was 9 months old. Percy was working as a Carter for Mr A Gerring, who we assume is Arthur Gerring who later came to farm at Court House Farm.
The family grew up in Great Coxwell in that time between the wars as the country attempted to recover from the loss of so many in the first war, including James’ father.
James, Kathleen and Nancy were joined by Cyril in 1923 and Joyce in 1926.
Sadly Percy died in 1927 aged only 35, he was buried at St Giles on 1st of July 1927, Annie was widowed for a second time and James, Kathleen, Nancy, Cyril and Joyce lost their father.
However James was resourceful and hardworking, by 1932 we see him working as a garden boy, and was so appreciated that the Faringdon Advertiser carried this reference:
Mrs Hamilton highly recommends James Wearn (18) as garden boy. Very steady, been with her 4 years. Write James Wearn Council Cottages, Great Coxwell.
By the outbreak of the Second World War on September 1st 1939 the family were still living in Great Coxwell, National Registration Day was September 29th 1939 and the register shows:
- Annie – Unpaid Domestic Duties
- Daughter Nancy – Domestic Servant
- Daughter Joyce – At School
- Son Cyril – Gardener
- Son James Leonard Wearn – Milk Roundsman
Kathleen had married William John Durham in 1933 and they were living in Great Coxwell in 1939, William was an Overhead Electrical Engineer.
James met and married Gillian Bryan, they were married at Faringdon Congregational Church on 27th April 1940; Nancy and Gillian’s twin sister Joan were her attendants.
They were attired in dainty frocks of pink satin broché, embossed with lilies-of-the-valley, silver head-dresses and shoes to tone, and carried posies of lilies-of-the-valley.
Brother-in-law William was James’ best man, after the service they moved to a reception was held at the “Swan” Hotel.
We learn that James’ was for several years a member of the North Berks Rover Team, and also was a playing member of the All Saints’ Cricket Club.
It was only 8 weeks later that James signed up, on 20th June 1940, he joined the 50th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Following training, James, who was in No 3 Platoon (Signals) HQ Company, served in Palestine and Tunisia before joining the landings at Salerno, he died on the 27th of September 1943 near Baronissi and was buried in an isolated grave at Baronissi, 5 miles north of Salerno. His remains were later moved and reburied at Salerno Beachhead, Plot V, Row A, Grave 5.
The headstone is marked as follows:
IN EVERLOVING MEMORY AND WITH TREASURED MEMORIES OF MY DARLING HUSBAND
James’ sister Kathleen had 8 children including village resident Michael Durham, Kathleen died in 2000 aged 84.
After James’ death Gillian remarried, in 1948 she married Albert Rixon and their daughter Brenda (now Haskins) still lives in the village, Gillian died in 1979 aged 59 and is buried in the Faringdon Nonconformist Cemetery
In loving memory of a dear husband and dad Albert Rixon died Sept 29th 1956 aged 41 years
Gone but not forgotten
Also a dear mum and sister Gillian Rixon born 26.11.1919 died 12.2.1979.
Artefacts
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Record
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Certificate
- Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum - Certificate
- Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum - Certificate
- Garden Boy Advert - Link
- Wedding - Link
- Percy Akers Medal - Link
- Percy Akers Medal - Link
- Ancestry Tree - Link
- Casualty List - Link
- Salerno Map - Link
- Infantry at Salerno - Link
Sources
http://www.lightbobs.com/7th-bn-oxf--bucks-li-1940-1945.html
https://www.sofo.org.uk/