On the Loos Memorial, France is the name of 19059 Lanc- Corporal James Edward Kinnafick, serving with the 14th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 28/09/1915.

In Gateshead East Cemetery is a family headstone for Kinnafick which reads:

In
loving memory
of
John,
dearly beloved husband of
Jane Kinnafick
died Feb.11th 1920,
aged 74 years.

Also the above Jane Kinnafick
who died April 6th 1918, in her 75th year.

Also of our eldest and beloved daughter
Mary Jane Anderson
who died Feb. 5th 1913
aged 44 years

also of our youngest and
dearly beloved son Lance Corpl.
James E. Kinnafick
14th Durham L.I. killed in action
in France Sept. 26th 1915
aged 34 years.

He gave his life for one and all,
and bravely answered duty’s call

Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-

James and his family lived at various addresses in central Gateshead. He was the youngest son of John and Jane. His father, a labourer, was originally from Ireland.

By the age of 20, according to 1901 census, James was a tobacco clay pipe maker living in Leopold Street. He married Annie McLean in 1909 and had 2 children in 1911. John James, his eldest son, then Cyril who only lived a few months dying later that year. Two other children were born after this.

James enlisted and joined the 14th (Service) Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. He went to France on the 11th September 1915.The circumstances of James death are not known except he was killed in action 15 days later on the 26th September 1915.

Acknowledgments: Geordie at War Project.

James Edward Kinnafick is remembered at Gateshead in G39.004, at Gosforth on G9.06 and G9.12, and at Durham in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance, page 266.