In Barnard Castle Roman Catholic Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:-

3/8703 Private
J. Horan
Yorkshire Regiment
2nd April 1918

Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-

James was born to Irish couple Thomas and Bridget (nee Garvey) on May 7th and was soon afterwards baptised on May 19th 1878 at the Roman Catholic Church at Barnard Castle. The couple had 9 children together although 3 died.

The 1891 census does not show father Thomas (a drainer of land) at his home on census night, he was living elsewhere in Barnard Castle. James’s mother worked as a flax spinner to help support the family. His older brother, Thomas, was a mason’s labourer. James and Francis were scholars.

In May 1898 James enlisted into the Yorkshire Regiment and served in South Africa 1899-1902, India 1902-06, South Africa 1906-09. He was discharged May 24th 1910.

In 1911 he was a prisoner in Northallerton Prison.

James re-joined the army in 1914 and became 3/8703 Private in the Yorkshire Regiment. He embarked for France on March 20th 1915.

In July 1915 James was injured, some of his records say a gun shot wound to the larynx. He was discharged October 20th 1915.

He died in April 1918 and was given a CWGC headstone.

Two of James’s brothers also served and died in the Great War – Thomas who died February 15th 1918 and Frank who died April 12th 1916.

His father Thomas had died in 1907 and mother Bridget died in 1923.

James Horan is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25