James Jarché

• Name — James Jarché • Born — 8 September 1890 • Birthplace — Mile End, London, England • Died — 6 August 1965 • Place of death — Hampstead, London, England • Education — St Olave's Grammar School (expelled) • Occupation — Press photographer • Employer — * Daily Sketch • Daily Herald • Daily Mail • Children — 1 • Relatives — * Jack Suchet (son-in-law) • John Suchet (grandson) • David Suchet (grandson)

Jarché was born in Mile End, London, to Jewish parents Arnold Jarché (or Jarchy; died 1901) and Amelie (née Salomon). His father had a photographic business near Tower Bridge in London, but died when Jimmy was ten, leaving his wife and Jimmy to run the business. After an undistinguished school life (he was expelled from St Olave's Grammar School), he was world amateur wrestling middleweight champion in 1909. In World War I, he stationed the rank of company sergeant-major with the 1st army corps school for physical training and bayonet training, serving in France. He married Elsie Gladys Jezzard (1893–1971), of Epping, Essex on 18 August 1914. They lived with her parents, who ran the White Lion pub in that town.

He worked as a photographer for the Daily Sketch from 1912 to 1929, then worked at The Graphic and the Daily Herald. He spent World War II as a British war correspondent for The Herald and the Weekly Illustrated and an official photographer for Life Magazine, in the Middle East. He visited Libya in 1941 and was in Burma in early 1942. He was in Berlin immediately after the end of the war. Tasked with photographing the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in black and white for Odhams Press, he reportedly also took colour photographs, which he sold independently, and was therefore sacked by Odhams. He then worked for the Daily Mail until his retirement in 1959.