Private James Pettinger. 

17423 1st Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).

Missing in Action 25th September 1915. Aged 20.

James  was born in the June quarter of 1894 in Burnley. The son of James Pettinger and Ellen O’Leary. In the 1901 census James was living at his grandparents Joseph and Catherine O’Leary , along with his mother Ellen (29), at 33 Anne St, Burnley.

By the 1911 census they had moved to 25 Patten St, Burnley. James 42, a labourer in an Iron Foundry, born in Blackburn, Ellen 37 cotton winder and James 17 weaver both born in Burnley. His parents had been married 17 years with just one child.

From The Express and Advertiser dated 16 October 1915: BURNLEY LAD "GASSED".

One of the Burnley soldiers to be "gassed" in the recent advances in France is Private James Pettinger of the Scottish rifles, whose home is at 25 Patten Street. Private PETTINGER who is 20 years of age, formerly worked at the Messrs' Harling and Todds, Rosegrove. Writing to his parents on September 30th he says: "I suppose you will have seen by the papers that the British have attacked. I have been in the thick of the fighting, and thank God I have come out of it safe. I am writing this in hospital where I have been for 3 days now, I have been "gassed". I was "gassed" on Monday night. You have no need to worry. I am alright."

From the Burnley News dated 20th October 1915: BURNLEY SOLDIER GASSED. RECOVERING IN HOSPITAL.

In the recent Big advance in France a Burnley soldier private James Pettinger, was gassed, and is at present in hospital recovering very nicely. In a letter to his mother who resides at 25 Patten Street Burnley, Private Pettinger who is 20 years of age, and was prior to the war employed at Messrs'  Harling and Todd's Rosegrove Foundry states: "I have been in the thick of the fighting but thank God I have come out of it safe". 

Lived at 25 Patten St.

James left his effects to his father James.

James is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France: Panels 57 to 59.