Person

James Golightly, known as Jim, was born in 1892 to Elizabeth Jane and George Benjamin Golightly of 9 Sea View, Murton. His father was a deputy overman at the local pit. The 1911 census shows that the couple were still living at Sea View with Jim and a second son William, born in 1904. Elizabeth and George had had a further nine children during their marriage who sadly had not survived childhood. Jim, who was 19 in 1911, was a miner working as a putter. In 1913 Jim married Clara Escott Elliott and on 21 January 1914 their son George Benjamin was born.

After the outbreak of war Jim enlisted in Sunderland into the 15th Durham Light Infantry (DLI). He served as a private with the service number 22445. After training he was posted overseas to the Western Front. He first served in France on 11 September 1915.

The 15th battalion saw action at Loos in September 1915 and during this conflict Jim was injured. He died of his wounds at the 9th Casualty Clearing Station on 27 September 1915. He was 24 years old. Jim was buried at Lillers Communal Cemetery, Cemetery memorial ref. 1V.A.39, Pas de Calais, France

Lillers is a small town about 15 km west north west of Bethune and the communal Cemetery Extension lies to the north of the town. Lillers was used for billets and headquarter offices from the autumn of 1914 to April 1918. At one time or another the 6th, 9th, 18th, 32nd, 49th and 58th Casualty Clearing Stations (CCS) were situated in the town. Soldiers who had died at these CCSs were buried on the right of the central path of the communal cemetery.

Jim Golightly was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his military service.

Civil Parish: East Murton

Birth date: 1892

Death date: 27-Sep-1915

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 9 Sea View, Murton (1901, 1911 Census)

Employment: Miner

Family: Parents: George Benjamin Golightly, Elizabeth Jane Golightly
Siblings: William Golightly
Spouse: Clara Escott Golightly nee Escott
Children: George Benjamin Golightly

Military service:

15th DLI
Private
Service Number 22445

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

Memorial(s): Book of Remembrance 1914-18 DLI, Durham Cathedral
Cenotaph 1914-18 1939-45, Village, Murton
Screen 1914-18, Holy Trinity Church, Murton
Rolls of Honour Fallen and Served 1914-18, Miner’s Hall, Murton
Book 1914-18 1939-45, Murton Miner’s Federation, Glebe Community Centre, Murton

Gender: Male

Contributed by U McKellar, Easington Village