Heslop's Local Advertiser 12/11/1915
Illustrated Chronicle
Loos Memorial
Photo: Marie McNicholls
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Milburn Lightfoot was born at Heworth, near Gateshead, County Durham in 1886, the eldest of 3 sons and 3 daughters (2 deceased gender unknown) born to Joseph Lightfoot and Sarah Jane Rogerson, both of Heworth born 1856. They were married in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, December 23rd 1880 setting up home at Bowes Place, Heworth where Joseph was employed as a grocer. Ten years later they had their own grocery store at Tyne Street which served also as the post office, living above and now the proud parents of 6 children. The three eldest children were now employed, Jane was a music teacher, Mary helped in the store, James at 15 was an apprentice joiner at the shipyards, the younger children were scholars. By 1911 the store was still their source of income, Joseph, his wife, daughter Barbara and son Robert all worked there, James was now a qualified joiner while Joseph was taking his apprenticeship to also to become a joiner.
On the outbreak of war James enlisted in 1914, assigned as Private 12385 to the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards. The main body of men from the Regular Army departed in August 1914 seeing action at Mons, the Marne, the Aisne and Ypres but taking such heavy losses that the 1st Battalion ceased to exist after the Battle of Gheluveit until the arrival of the new recruits. Private Lightfoot joined the battalion on the Western Front January 9th 1915. They remained on the Western Front deployed in day to day warfare until participating during the Battle of Loos, September 25th-October 13th 1915.
Private 12385 James Milburn Lightfoot Coldstream Guards was killed in action on the second day of battle, September 27th 1915, in the Vermelles sector but has no known grave. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 20,610 names on the Loos Memorial which forms the walls of the Dud Corner Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, panel 8 and 9.
Private Lightfoot was 29 years old and single, he nominated his father Joseph as sole beneficiary to receive all monies due to him from the Army and his awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to him at The Post Office, Tyne Street, Felling Shore, Heworth, County Durham. His son’s will went to probate and Joseph was also awarded the sum of 291 pounds 18 shilling 4 pence, April 13th 1916.
Joseph Lightfoot died April 3rd 1922, aged 66 years, leaving probate to his wife in the sum of 10,406 pounds 18 shillings 3 pence, Sarah Jane Lightfoot nee Rogerson in turn upon her death, aged 71 years, October 24th 1928, left probate to her sons Joseph (joiner), Robert (grocer), daughter Mary Thompson Taylor and her husband James Taylor (engineer), in the sun of 7244 pounds 8 shillings 4 pence.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop's Local Advertiser 12/11/1915 reports:
“Private Jim Milburn Lightfoot , 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, killed in action in Belgium on 27th Sept, aged 29 years. Eldest son of Joseph and Sarah Lightfoot, Post Office, Felling Shore."
In Heworth St. Mary's Churchyard is a family headstone for Lightfoot which includes:
eldest son of the above
who was killed in action
at Vermells in Belgium
Sept. 27th 1915, aged 29 years
He answered his country's call
and gave his life for all.
Henry Mills Ridley
beloved husband of
Barbara Ann Ridley
and son-in-law of the above
died of wounds while prisoner
of war Isechem, May 23rd, 1918
aged 31
James Milburn Lightfoot remembered in Gateshead on G39.003 and in Heworth on H92.03
