Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
James the son of James and Annie (nee Alderson) was born at Barnard Castle in 1883. The couple had married at Barnard Castle 1877 and went on to have 10 children although sadly 5 died.
James is first shown on the 1891 census living at home with his parents (his father was a gas stoker). His siblings included Isabella, Robert and Selena.
By 1901 the family had grown to include Sidney, Henry and Olive.
Some of the older family had jobs now. Robert was a mason's labourer as was his father. Isabella was a flax spinner whilst James worked as a flax dresser. The younger children were at school.
The family continued as usual in 1911 although several members were not shown on this census.
On 20 July 1912 James married his sweetheart, Frances Ann Wardle who was known as Annie. The couple had three children, Norman born September 14th 1912, Ann Alderson born October 9th 1913 and Mary Jane born April 1st 1915.
James died of wounds September 23rd 1916 which was only a few weeks before his brother in law, George Wardle They both served in the same battalion and are both commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
The following article was published in the Teesdale Mercury 18/10/1916:-
"Private James Young, Bridgegate, Barnard Castle, of the Durham Light Infantry, who was wounded in France recently, died of his injuries on September 23rd. The late soldier, who was 32 years of age, was the brother-in-law of Private Wardle, whose heroic death in action we chronicled last week. Private Young leaves a widow and two children.Private Sidney Young, of the Durham Light Infantry, has been gassed, and is spending a short leave of absence with his parents. Private Robert Young, of the Inniskillings is now in Ireland, he having been wounded twice. The above young men are the sons of Mr and Mrs James Young, Bridgegate, Barnard Castle."
James Young is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 260
