James Carroll Traditional Cache

This cache is placed in memory of James Carroll who was Badshot Lea's first Great War Casualty.

At this spot Badshot Lea's first great war casualty was shot by friendly fire and later died in the Cambridge Military Hospital. On or about 19th August 1914 James Carroll walked under the railway bridge at the bottom of Eggar's Hill and spoke to a territorial soldier guarding the line.

He then took the footpath towards Weybourne and turned under the bridge towards the Elm Tree Pub.

He was ordered to stop several times by Pte Calfe of the London Regiment,  who was on the line above.

When he failed to stop Calfe fired down on him and a bullet entered his back and came out near his thigh. He later died in the Cambridge Military Hospital,  Aldershot. The verdict was that Calfe shot James Carroll in the execution of his duty.

Poor Carroll had poor sight and was deaf!!