James was born in Sedgley, Staffordshire in 1878. He first appeared in the census of 1881. He was living in Sedgley with his family which included head of household John who was 47 and a stacker at the ironworks who had been born in Stroud, Gloucestershire. His wife was Jane 47. Their children were George William 15, a hurdle maker, Penelope 13, John 11, Mary 7 and James 3.

In 1891 the family was still in Sedgley. The father John was then 57 and an ironworker. His wife was still named as Jane but it gives her age as 28. (Either this is a mistake and should say 58 or he has married again to someone also named Jane). At home were Mary 18, James 13 who was already an ironworker and there was also a 4 year old grandson  – Alfred.

On the 1911 census James  was aged 33 and single, living as a boarder at 37, Alexander Street, Shotton, with William & Martha Jones,  following hundreds of men who came to Shotton to work in John Summers & Sons Steelworks.

UK soldiers who died in the Great War 1914 -19, accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental information above and adds that he enlisted in Chester.

James’s medal card also accessible on ancestry, records his medal details and also tells us that his first theatre of war was France and that he entered it on 15th July 1915.

James Young in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that the Legatees were his mother Jane for herself and his brothers and sisters, who were paid £2. 13s 0d on the 25th January 1916, also his brother George was paid 10/7d. His mother Jane was paid his War Gratuity of £3 on the 29th August 1919.

James was named on 2 other memorials – the Hawarden War Memorial and the Memorial Screen at St Ethelwold’s Church. Somebody made an effort to ensure he was remembered.

Would be very grateful for any further help with this soldier.