Hello Dave
Now you have passed on the details, I have had a look at his service papers on Ancestry.
First of all the Book by Bowater, The Birmingham City battalions Book of Honour is not needed. The book relates to the original volunteers of 1914 and those that then joined the battalions to about mid-1915 and who all went to France on 21 November 1915. So Samuel Charles James name does not appear in the book.
Prior to Conscription there was a chance for men to volunteer into what was known as the Derby Scheme or the 'Group System'
There were 46 groups. The first 23 was for single men 18 to 40. Groups 24 to 46 was for married men 18 to 40. Single men were called up first.
Samuel Charles James enlisted on 10 December 1915 at Aston Baths. The following day he was put on Army Reserve until his group was called up. Because he was 37 years old with 5 children he appears to have been in Group 44, and he was called up to begin his training on 15 November 1916.
He done around 3 months training before being posted to France and joined the 15th Royal Warwicks 14 Feb 1917. They served in Italy from Nov 1917 to April 1918.
He had home leave back in UK 11 July 1918 to 25 July 1918. Back to France 26 July 1918.
The Army reduced the size of a Division in 1918 and the 5th Division (containing the 14,15, & 16 Royal Warwicks) were one of the last Divisions to do so. Thus on 8 October 1918, the 14th Warwicks were made a Divisional Pioneer battalion. The 15th Warwicks were disbanded and the men transferred into the 16th Warwicks.
So he did serve in what started as the 2nd Birmingham Battalion (15th Royal Warwicks), but, when he was posted to it the uniqueness of being a Birmingham Battalion had gone. Most of the original volunteers had either been killed or wounded.
Hope this helps
Terry