Janet Rice has submitted the following:

James was born in Coupland, Kirknewton in 1892, the youngest child of William, a farm labourer, and Agnes. His mother Agnes died a few months after his birth and his father remarried. By 1901 James’ father was also dead and the three children were living at Tower Farm, Lilburn. In 1911 James was a grocer’s assistant, still living with his stepmother at Lilburn Steads. He was working at Hedgeley Co-op as a counter-man and traveller.

James enlisted in November 1915 and was wounded in September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He died of wounds received during the German Spring offensive of 1918, known as Operation Michael. Much of the ground fought over in this offensive was the same as that for the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The failure by the Germans to break through marked the beginning of the end of the War.

He is remembered in Eglingham on E18.01 and in Wooler on W68.01 and in Powburn on P39.01

Breamish Valley Roll of Honour
The CWGC entry for Lance Corporal Atkinson