Son of Thomas and Isabella Middleton of 12 Double Row, West Harton. He had a brother, William Middleton of 19 Crofton Street, Tyne Dock, who was an Overman at Harton Colliery.
James Henry Middleton worked as a clerk for Messrs. Pyman and Bell for 17 years before he enlisted in North Shields, enlisting in the Tyne Electrical Engineers, in No 1 Company.
A Coroner's inquest determined that he committed suicide, having been hit by a train on the railway line near Whiteleas Bridge. South Shields. His brother was a witness at the Coroner's Inquest.
The Newcastle Journal Saturday 14/04/1917.
"Soldier's Death on the Railway- The body of a man , which was afterwards identified as that of Private James H. Middleton, aged 29 years, has been found on the N. E. Railway near Whiteleas Bridge, Tyne Dock. Deceased, who was about 29 years of age, had apparently been knocked down by a train. He resided with his parents at Double Row, Harton Colliery, and for a number of years was in the employment of Messrs. Pyman Bell and Co., but joined the forces some months before."
Source: James Hoy Archive
He is remembered at South Shields on S86.027, S86.043, S86.044 and in S86.086 page 10
