James Fynn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Henry Finn
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| Nickname(s) | "Jimmy" "Little Finn" |
| Born | 24 November 1893 St Clement, Truro, Cornwall |
| Died | 30 March 1917 (aged 23) Mesopotamia |
| Buried |
Remembered on the Basra Memorial
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | – 1917 † |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry South Wales Borderers |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Order of the Star of Karageorge |
Private James Henry Finn (sometimes called Fynn) was a very brave British soldier. He was born on November 24, 1893, and sadly passed away on March 30, 1917, when he was just 23 years old.
James Finn received the Victoria Cross (VC), which is the highest and most important award for bravery in the face of the enemy. It is given to soldiers from Britain and other Commonwealth countries. He also received the Order of Karageorge, which is a similar award from Serbia.
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Who Was James Henry Finn?
James Henry Finn was a soldier in the British Army during World War I. He was known for his incredible courage. People sometimes called him "Jimmy" or "Little Finn." His actions during the war earned him the highest military honor.
Early Life and Joining the Army
James Finn was born in a place called St Clement, near Truro in Cornwall, England. His father, John Finn, was also a soldier. He served in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry during the Boer War. Later, he also served in the First World War.
Before the war, James Finn was a soldier in a local group called the 5th Battalion, DCLI. He then moved to the South Wales Valleys to find work. He found a job at a coal mine in Cwmtillery, near Abertillery.
When World War I began, James Finn immediately joined the local army group, the South Wales Borderers. He was assigned to their 4th (Service) Battalion. When he joined, his last name was accidentally written as "Fynn" instead of "Finn."
Bravery in Battle
On July 15, 1915, James Finn's battalion landed at a place called Gallipoli. During a battle there, he was hurt in his knee and chest. He had to go back to Britain to get better.
After his group left Gallipoli, they moved to a place called Mesopotamia (which is now Iraq). James Finn rejoined them there. He worked as an assistant to the commanding officer, Lt. Col. C. E. Kitchen.
On April 9, 1916, when he was 22 years old, Private Fynn showed amazing bravery at Sanna-i-Yat in Mesopotamia. This is where he earned his Victoria Cross.
Here is what was written about his brave actions:
He showed amazing bravery. After a night attack, he was part of a small group that dug into the ground in front of our army's line. They were about 300 yards away from the enemy's trenches. He saw several wounded men lying out in the open. He went out and bandaged all of them while under heavy enemy fire. He made several trips to do this. Then, he went back to our trench to get a stretcher. Since he couldn't find one, he carried a badly wounded man on his back to safety. He then returned. With the help of another man (who was wounded during the rescue), he carried another badly wounded man to safety. He was under constant enemy fire while doing this very brave work.
James Finn received the ribbon for his Victoria Cross on November 5, 1916. It was given to him by Lt Gen Sir Stanley Maude in Amara.
Sadly, on March 29, 1917, he was wounded in the leg during a fight at Marl Plain, about 50 miles north of Baghdad. He was being carried on a stretcher to a medical camp the next day. But on the way, he was hit by another bullet in his side, which caused his death.
His Victoria Cross was given to his father by King George V. This happened at a public ceremony in Hyde Park on June 2, 1917.
James Finn was also mentioned in official reports (called "mentioned in dispatches") for his bravery. He also received the Serbian Cross of the Karageorge (1st Class) with swords.
Remembering James Finn
James Finn is remembered at the Basra Memorial in Basra, Iraq. His name can be found on panel numbers 16 and 32. This memorial was originally located within the Basra War Cemetery.
In 1966, his hometown of Bodmin also honored him. A housing area was named "Finn VC Estate" after him. A special plaque was put up to remember this event. You can see it across from the old library in Bodmin. His Victoria Cross medal was given to the town council, but it is not currently on public display.
Even though his body was never brought back to Cornwall, he is remembered on his father's gravestone in Bodmin Cemetery.
In March 2016, a special paving stone was placed at Mount Folly in Bodmin to honor him.
There are also memorials for him at Havard Chapel in Brecon Cathedral, St Michael's Church in Abertillery, and the Town War Memorial in Abertillery.
A painting of his brave actions was published in several magazines, including The Sphere, Tatler, and The Times Illustrated History of the Great War. The original painting was created by Ugo Matania and is kept at the Wellcome Library in London.
