Private James McDonald

Service Number: 19725

1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment

Killed in Action 1st July 1916, aged 23

Son of Mrs. McDonald, 8 Killington Street, Burnley

From the Burnley Express dated 5th May 1917:  A DOUBLE BEREAVEMENT

A second casualty falls to the sad lot of Mrs. McDonald, of 8 Killington Street, Burnley whose other son, Pte. James McDonald (19752), of the East Lancashire Regt., is officially reported as having been killed in France on July 1st 1916, having previously been reported as missing.  The unfortunate soldier was 23 years of age, and previous to enlistment was employed as an oiler at Messrs. Emmott's Stanley Mills, Burnley.  He enlisted at Burnley two years ago, and after traiing at Plymouth was drafted to France, where he had been eleven months when reported missing.  Pte. McDonald was formerly a scholar at St. John's Roman Catholic Sunday School, and was on the roll of honour.  Pt. Michael McDonald, his brother, was killed in the Dardanelles on September 3rd 1915.  Another brother is in training in Wales with the South Wales Border Regiment.

Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France: Pier & Face 6 C 

(Photo courtesy of M & J Hoggatt)