James Dryden was born at Mount Pleasant, Birtley in 1881. On the 1901 census he was employed as a time served plasterer and the family lived at Saltwell Road, Gateshead. James married Louisa Emily Murphy in 1904 but she died aged 26 in 1909. In 1907 he was discharged from the Royal Artillery after serving three and a half years. On the 1911 census he was living with his parents and four younger siblings at Vale Houses Eighton Banks, and was employed as a colliery labourer. He married Elizabeth Airey on 24th February 1912 at St Thomas' Eighton Banks and their son, Wilfred James, was born on 29th November 1913 in Springwell, and was baptised at St Thomas' in 1914. Sadly Wilfred died later that year.

James is listed in the Lincolnshire Regiment on the memorial but in fact he served in several different regiments before and during the First World War. In 1914 he joined the Royal Horse and Field Artillery as number 96576 on August 21st. He was discharged on 14th October. On 26th July 1916 he joined the Lincolnshire Regiment as number 29336 and was posted for duty the next day. On 19th September 1916 he was transferred to the 25th works battalion of the Durham Light Infantry as number 29189. This battalion was disbanded so he was transferred to the Labour Corps as number 169752 but he was at the time a patient in Bracebridge hospital, Lincoln, so strictly should not have been transferred but his transfer was allowed to stand and he was moved to Winterton hospital, Durham. He was discharged on 10th October 1918 as physically unfit.

James died on 26th November 1918. His funeral took place at St. Thomas’ Church on 1st December 1918. He is buried in St Thomas' churchyard with his parents and other family members. His disability was not attributable to his war service but was aggravated by it so his widow was awarded a pension dated from 11th October 1918. James' widow was living in Renforth Street, Dunston, when she received a pension.

He is remembered in Eighton Banks on E50.01 and E50.02

There is no CWGC entry for Driver Dryden