Person

A family member has submitted the following information about James:
James Lendrem was born in Barnard Castle, brought up in Durham, and moved to Ushaw Moor following the death of his father. He worked as a coal hewer at the colliery and joined the Durham Light Infantry. He was a ‘sharpshooter’ and I vividly remember his enamelled DLI Sharpshooters Badge. He was gassed at Sanctuary Wood on 24 May 1915. He never recovered fully and was discharged in April 1916. He went on to live a full life and died in 1967. James was one of three brothers to serve in the First World War. His older brother, John William, had emigrated to Chicago, but enlisted with the US First Army when the USA entered the war in 1917. Their younger brother, George Robert, was killed that same year at the battle of Passchendaele.

The following information has been added:
James was born on 2 January 1891, the son of William and Sarah Elizabeth Lendrem. Shortly after his birth the Lendrem family moved to live in central Durham on Hallgarth Street. James’ father William worked as a carpet weaver. William died in 1898 when his youngest child would have been only four years old. At the time of the 1901 census Sarah is listed as the head of the household and is working as a confectioner. Around 1903 Sarah married John William Wadsworth, a coal miner from Yorkshire.

James originally attested into the army in March 1909 and joined the 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI). At the time of his attestation James was working as a miner for Pease and Partners. As part of the 8th Battalion James attended the annual training camps between 1909 and 1913. The day after Great Britain declared war on Germany, James was embodied as part of the 1/8th Battalion DLI as a private with the service number 934. Within a month he had been promoted to Lance Corporal.

James left for France with the 1/8th Battalion DLI on 19 April 1915. Around a month later he was gassed at Sanctuary Wood on 24 May 1915. Following treatment in the field and then in Armentieres, James returned to his unit in July 1915. His service records state his reversion to the rank of private in October following ‘neglect of duty’. James returned to England on 5 March 1916 and was discharged soon after.

James married Sarah Ellen Bowes in 1915. At the time of the 1939 Register James was living in Lanchester and working as an accounts clerk. He died on 25 January 1967.

Civil Parish: Esh

Birth date: 02-Jan-1891

Death date: 25-Jan-1967

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Hallgarth Street, Durham (1891, 1901 Censuses)
15 South View, Ushaw Moor (Attestation records, 1909)
17 West Terrace, Ushaw Moor (1911 Census)
30 Durham Road, Lanchester (1939 Register)

Education: St. Oswald’s Church of England Infant School, 1894-1897
St Oswald’s Church of England Boy’s School
Ushaw Moor Junior Mixed School

Employment: Coal Miner, hewer (1911 Census)
Accounts Clerk (1939 Register)

Family: Parents: William Lendrem, Sarah Elizabeth Lendrem nee Proctor
Siblings: Jane Ann Lendrem, John William Lendrem, Eva Lendrem, Maud Lendrem, George Robert Lendrem, Mary Anne Lendrem
Wife: Sarah Ellen Lendrem nee Bowes
Children: Ena Lendrem, Henry Bowes Lendrem, William Lendrem, George R Lendrem

Military service:

8th Battalion DLI
Service Number 934
Private, Lance Corporal

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by Lendrem, Rothbury, Northumberland