Photo: Maureen Havers
J. Steel
Durham Light Infantry
21st February 1918 1917 age 46
James Steel was born in 1873 at Aspatria Cumberland the son of Guy Warwick and Sarah Steel. By the age of 8 his family had moved to Gateshead. In 1891 he is a general labourer at Peareth Street Gateshead. In 1901 James was a cartman and living in York Street Gateshead.
8/09/1914 James enlisted into the D.L.I. at Gateshead although residing at Blyth and on his attestation forms claims to be 34 years and 8 months old - he was more like 42 years old. He went to France 25/08/1915 to 12/11/1917 and then moved to Italy 13/11/1917.
James was found dead in his bed on the 21/02/1918. He had been found drunk and unable to stand, had been put to bed and died.
There are no other instances of James being drunk in his service records. There was a Court of Inquiry and his death was said to have been due to an excess of alcohol.
By 1918 James' parents were both dead and his brothers and sisters claimed his effects and medals.
James' death is reported in John Sheen's book With Bayonets Fixed the story of the 12th and 13th D.L.I.
We have not been able to find James remembered on any North East War Memorial.