Private 245215, 13th Bn., Durham Light Infantry
James was born at Holly Bank, Armitage in 1876 where his parents, William and Alice, had just moved to with their growing family. William worked as a labourer, probably on a farm, and their children were born in various places in Staffordshire – Burslem, Marchington and Sneyd Green – as well as James and his younger sister Alice at Armitage. His mother was originally from Stramshall and their wanderings eventually took them back to the Uttoxeter area.
James married Louisa Ford at St. Mary the Virgin, Uttoxeter in 1905 and moved just over the county border to Doveridge in Derbyshire. He was a domestic gardener and they had three children, Thomas, Alice and James.
James was initially in the Northumberland Fusiliers, Private 59876, but was transferred to the 13th Bn Durham Light Infantry where he was a member of the 2nd platoon, A Company. We know that he was reported wounded and missing on 20th September 1917 and it was later announced that he had been killed but no other information is available at the moment. He is commemorated at the Zantvoorde British Cemetery in Belgium.