1884 May 18. Born , King's Norton, Warwickshire, England
1891 census living at 70 High St, Solihull
1901 census He is a boarder at Repton School, Derbyshire
1903 Jan 20. Unattached List, Indian Army. The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the Royal Military College, to be Second Lieutenants, with a view to their appointment to the Indian Army: James Osmund Airy.
1904 Apr 8. Indian Army. Second Lieutenants, from the Unattached List, to be Second Lieutenants. James Osmund Airy.
1905 Apr 21. Indian Army. Second Lieutenants to be Lieutenants. James Osmund Airy, 114th Mahrattas.
1909 Feb 28. The King has approved of the resignation of the service by the following officers of the Indian Army:— Lieutenant James Osmund Airy
1910 Dec 3. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
MILITARY FORCES OF THE COMMONWEALTH. APPOINTMENT OF AREA OFFICERS (TEMPORARILY).
HIS Excellency the Governor- General, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive 'Council, has been pleased to approve that the undermentioned officers be temporarily appointed as " Area Officers " with effect from 1st November, 1910, and that such officers be allotted to Areas and have rank as shown hereunder.
Officers appointed as Ares 0fficers (temporary) are hereby seconded from their Regiments and Corps while holding such temporary appointments.
1913 May 17. Arrives London on SS Orama from Melbourne. Travels 1st Class
1913 Oct 30 . Arrives Brisbane on SS Osterley
1914 Jul 23 Attests for Canadian Expeditionary Force at Valcartier, Quebec
1915 Feb 4, The undermentioned are transfd. from Res. to Regular Bns. as temp. Officers, with dates of seniority as stated: Essex R.—Capt. J. O. Airy.
1915 Jul Lands Gallipoli
1915 Dec. Moves from Gallipoli to Egypt Expeditionary Force
1916 Oct 15. Manch. R.—Temp. Capt. J. O. Airy, from Essex R., to be Capt. 2nd Nov. 1916, but to rank for seniority from 15th Oct. 1916, and to retain his present seniority until ordered to join a Regular unit.
1917 Jul 20 Returns from Egypt and posted to France & Belgium
1917 Jul 22. Married Gladys Maud Amy Loudon in St Andrews Church, Bournemouth, Hants
1917 Jul 26. Manch. R. Capt. J. O. Airy to be temp. Maj.
1917 Oct 19 Manch. R. Temp. Maj. (actg. Lt.-Col.) J. O. Airy (Capt., Manch.. R.) to comd. a Bn., and to be temp. Lt.-Col.
1918 Oct 8. War Diary 11th Manchesters At 8 p.m. the C.O., Major MEUGENS was amongst the wounded. During the night there were some patrol encounters, and a few enemy prisoners were taken. On the following morning Captain J. 0. AIRY returned to the Battalion and took over the command.
1919 Apr 9 Attached to HQ units Comdt. (Cl. X). Capt. J. O. Airy, Manch. R., and to be temp. Col. whilst so empld.
1919 Aug 30. Comdts, (Cl. X).— Capt. J. 0. Airy, Manch. R., and relinquishes the temp, rank of Col.
1919 Oct 17 Manch. R. Capt. J. 0. Airy relinquishes the temp,rank of Lt.-Col. on ceasing to comd. 11th Bn.
1919 Oct 27 Posted to Ireland
1920 Apr 2. At Kilworth, Cork
1920 Jul 12. Arrives to command a half company of Manchesters at Ballincollig who have commandeered a house as a base. The locals were surprised to find a Captain in charge of the small detachment in Ballincollig on 10 Jul 1920. Lt Sharman was his number two (Sharmen died in another ambush on 8 Aug 1920)
1920 Jul 21. died age 36 in a West Cork Ambush Husband of Gladys Maud Airy, of 8, Cleveland Rd., Ealing, London.
1920 Aug 19 Gen Strickland recommends urgent action on widows pension
1920 Sep 25. Probate to his widow.
There is a memorial plaque in Playford, Suffolk
IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN JAMES OSMUND AIRY/ OF THE MANCHESTER REGIMENT. SON OF OSMUND AND/ EMILY JOSEPHINE AIRY. BORN MAY 18TH 1884/ WHO AFTER FOUR YEARS CONTINUOUS SERVICE IN THE FIGHTING LINE DURING THE GREAT WAR WAS KILLED/ IN IRELAND JULY 21ST 1920/ GALLIPOLI EGYPT FRANCE IRELAND
1947 Jun. His widow is still trying to get a pension(note same address as in 1920 probate)
British Soldiers died in Ireland
WO 339/15493