Lieutenant-Colonel Richard James
5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

No fewer than twelve counter-attacks had been delivered and repulsed, and it was becoming apparent that the final exhaustion of the battalion in the face of such odds could only be a question of time when Lieutenant-Colonel James, who had been such an inspiration in the whole conduct of the defence, was shot out of a tree from which he had been directing fire by a machine-gun burst and killed instantly. So perished a very able and gallant officer.

(Ernest Gordon Godfrey, The History of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, 1939-45, 234)

Born in 1915 in Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Richard Whitfield James was a cricketer, rugby player, solicitor, and Terriorial Army officer. He was commissioned with the Somerset Light Infantry and mobilized with the 4th Battalion at the start of the Second World War. In January 1944, he became second-in-command of the 5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in the 43rd Division.

After Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Atherton was killed in action in Normandy on 27 June 1944, James assumed command. Just fourteen days later, he would also fall in battle. As he directed artillery from a tree in full view of the enemy, on 11 July at Hill 112, James was struck down by machine gun fire. After the breakdown in command and communication, the 5th Battalion troops began a confused withdrawal. Lieutenant-Colonel C.G. Lipscomb of the 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry and surviving company commanders managed to rally the men and prevented a rout.

Lieutenant-Colonel George Taylor was appointed from the 1st Worcestershire to be the new commanding officer of the 5th DCLI.