On the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France is the name of 10037 Private James Joshua Lay, serving with the 13th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers who died 18/07/1916.

The husband of Jane Lay, of 83, Stoney Lane, Southwick on Wear, Sunderland.

He was the uncle of Pte. Joseph James Lay who died in 1918.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

James Joshua Lay was one of 7 children. His father James Joshua Lay was born in the district of Sunderland in 1853 and married Elizabeth Wilson in 1871. Born in Glasgow, Scotland on May14th 1854 she was the daughter of boilermaker William Wilson and Elizabeth Fagan. 

Their son Robert William Lay was born at Southwick on March 10th 1872 as were Charlotte in 1875, William Hunter on September 26th 1877 and Ann Mary on February 13th 1879. In 1881 the family occupied 72, New Brandling Street, James Joshua supported his family employed as a boilermaker. 

James Joshua Lay Jnr was born in July 1884 and baptised July 6th at St. Peter’s Bishopwearmouth, Elizabeth Jane in 1887, Thomas Dodds Lay on October 18th 1889, Caroline Batty on September 27th 1892 and Frederick Hollinshead Lay on September 3rd 1896. 

Boilermaker James Joshua Lay Snr died in 1899. His widow Elizabeth was living in the village of Fulwell, district of Sunderland at 22, Violet Cottage in 1901. James Joshua (16) was an apprentice bricklayer, Ann Mary (23)  and Elizabeth Jane (13) assisted their mother in the home, Caroline (8) and Frederick (4) were not listed as scholars. To make ends meet they had taken in two boarders, cartman John Kiddie and shipyard worker John Wilson. 

James Joshua Lay married in 1905 in the district of Sunderland Jane Foster. Born at Southwick, Sunderland on December 25th 1884 she was daughter of John Thomas Foster and Ann Lathan. 

Their son James Joshua was born at Southwick on March 19th 1906 and baptised April 6th at Holy Trinity, Southwick. In 1911 they occupied 18, Back Ogle Terrace, Southwick where James Joshua worked underground at the colliery as a shifter. 

As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a possibility of war with Germany but day to day life continued. Jane gave birth to John Thomas Lay in 1912 who sadly died in 1913 only 1 year old. 

When Germany ignored Britain’s ultimatum to withdraw troops from neutral Belgium on August 4th 1914 Britain declared a state of war existed. 

James Joshua Lay enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne where he was initially assigned as Private 10037 to the 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a Reserve Battalion and training unit stationed in Newcastle. The battalion relocated for training to East Bolton and supplied men for the draft. 

When Private Lay departed to the front on October 7th 1915 his wife was in the final stages of her third pregnancy. Their daughter Jane was born on November 13th 1915. 

Upon his arrival in France he was posted from the Infantry Base Depot to the 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers attached to the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division. The battalion had been greatly depleted having lost over 3,800 men during the Battle of Loos.

During the spring of 1916 preparations were well underway for the forthcoming Battles of the Somme. Programmed to commence June 29th 1916 in readiness the men took up their positions in the frontline trenches where they waited for two days as the opening battle was delayed due to bad weather. At 07.28 a.m. on July 1st 1916 after two huge detonations in the explosive packed tunnels at 07.30 a.m. the whistles blew and the men went over the top.

The 21st Division participated on the Somme during the Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th 1916, Bazentin Ridge, July 13th-17th, Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd, Morval, September 25th-28th and Le Transloy, October 1st-18th. 

Private 10037 Jame Joshua Lay Northumberland Fusiliers is deemed to have been killed in action between July 11th/18th 1916. The C.W.G.C. have adopted July 18th 1916. 

His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 72,000 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 who have no known grave. 

His widow Jane received all monies due to her late husband from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal also a pension for herself and their two children in the sum of 18 shillings 6 pence awarded on February 8th 1917 to be received weekly as of February 12th 1917 sent to her at 18, Ogle Terrace, Southwick, Sunderland. The pension would be diminished as each child reached the age of 16. 

After her husband’s demise Jane moved in with her parents, 3 sisters and a nephew at 83, Stoney Lane, Southwick. Her father John Thomas Foster (68) was a shipyard worker, her son James Joshua Lay (15) an apprentice joiner at William Pickersgill & Sons Shipbuilding Yard at Southwick Jane (5) was a scholar. 

In 1939 Jane and her daughter Jane were living together alone at 82, Stoney Lane. 

Her son James Joshua had left the family home when he married Annie Boyd in 1930. In 1939 he, his wife and son, also named James Joshua (9), were living at 23, Broadsheath Terrace, Southwick where James Joshua was employed as a shipyard joiner. 

Jane Lay (86) never remarried, she died in 1970. To mark the anniversary of her husband’s passing every year she placed a notice in the Sunderland Echo in her name and that of his children Jim and Jennie. 

James Joshua (Jim) Lay died on July 20th 1971, his widow Annie Lay nee Boyd had died in 1965. They are buried in their family plot within Southwick Cemetery with their daughter Jean Lay, born in 1940 she died in 1943. Their son James Joshua Lay died in 2000 registered at Leeds, West Yorkshire. 

Jane Lay also known as Jennie never married, she died on January 12th 2006. After her mother’s demise it was she who continued the tradition of marking the anniversary of her father’s demise every year.  She placed an entry in the Roll of Honour of the Sunderland Echo, it reads, “In loving memory of my dear father, Private James Joshua Lay, killed in action, July 18th, 1916. A thought, a prayer, are all I can give, these he shall have as long as I live. His loving daughter Jennie.”

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace. 

James Joshua Lay  is remembered at Southwick on S130.10,  S130.22 and S130.22, at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 3 page 61 and in S140.48 Part 12 page266 and in Peter Gibson’s book.