Colin Boyd has provided the following:
James was born on 26th September 1884. He was working as a miner, living with his wife, Janie at 49, Astley Road, Seaton Delaval when he enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry on 3rd September 1914.
He transferred to the RNVR on 7th September 1914 and was posted to the Howe Battalion in Antwerp on the same day.
James was invalided to the UK from Gallipoli on 22nd August 1915 suffering from Dysentery.
He rejoined the Howe Battalion in France on 23rd March 1917 and served until he was invalided to the UK again suffering from Pyrexia.
James rejoined the Howe Battalion again on 17th December 1917 and was hospitalised with an injury to the left knee on 1st January 1918.
James joined the Hood Battalion on 10th March 1918 and was posted as missing assumed killed in action on 24th March 1918.
James McKean is remembered in Seaton Delaval on S7.03 and S7.10 and in Seghill on S11.03
The CWGC spell his name "McKeen".
