Private James Henry Dearden.
11937 King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Killed in Action 30th July 1916, aged 28.
James henry was born 19th July 1888 and baptised on the 26th Aug the same year in St Saviour’s Church, Leeds, Yorkshire. His parents were James Thomas and Annie Dearden, his father was a miner.
In the 1891 census the family was living at Cornforth, Sedgefield, Durham. James 29 coal miner, Sarah 32, Mary J 6, James Henry 2 all born in Batley, Yorks.,
The family had moved to Burnley by the time of the 1901 census and lived at 2 Eastham St. James 39, Sarah 37, Mary Jane 16 and James Henry 12.
James married Mary Ann Livsey in the Dec. quarter 1909, Burnley
In the 1911 census James(22) and his wife Mary (21) were living at 37 Albion St, Burnley and had 1 child, James Henry 7 months old.
From the Battalion war diary 30th of July 1916.
Disposition - left to right,C,B,& D Coy's in front, A in support, Battalion HQ in dugout south of church. Heavy shellfire and sniping all day. Many casualties caused. Communication with Front line and also with brigade extremely slow and difficult owing to heavy losses amongst orderlies. Battalion in conjunction with units on both flanks order to attack being their objection from right flank to a point north of orchard. Artillery lifted at 6:12 p.m. And attack commenced by this time many officers and NCO's had become casualties. Left two companies got to objective only all way to be forced back 30 yards where they do in. Right company D suffered very heavily and were forced to fall back on right but protected right flank the Battalion was relieved under great difficulty next night by the 1st Norfolk's and 1st Bedford's.
During the fighting the Battalion lost 6 Officers killed, 9 wounded and Other Ranks (OR) 244 killed wounded or missing.
James left is effects to the Guardian of his children, Sarah A Dearden.
Parents lived at 5 Blakey Street.
James Henry is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France: Panels 4A &4D
Photo courtesy of George Coppock, 2024