McCLURE, James

Corporal, 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)
Service No: D/21116
Died: 30/03/1918
Age: 28

Interred in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

James was born on 17 April 1889 in Castle Street, Bangor. He was the son of John McClure, a sailor, and Elizabeth (Bessie) McClure (nee McAlorum. While her maiden name on the family headstone is 'McAloran' the various documents available record the name as 'McAlorum' or 'McIlorum'). His parents married in St Annes Church, Belfast, on 1 August 1887.

The family moved to Bangor for a short while where James (Castle St.) and his brother John (West St.) were born.

They returned to Belfast shortly after and John died here in December 1892, at Canmore Street, Belfast. Three of James' sisters were born in Belfast – Maggie (1893); Martha (1897); and Kathleen (1899).

After Kathleen's birth the family moved to live in Castle Street, Bangor, where the remainder of James' siblings where born – Jane (1904); Alice (1905); Thomas (1908); and  Hugh (1909). It was also here that his grandmother died in 1916.

When the war broke out James enlisted and joined the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays) entering France with them in August 1914.

Troops of the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) on the march approaching
Hardecourt Wood, 18 September 1916. IWM Q4239.

The regiment, which had been was stationed at Aldershot at the start of the war, landed in France as part of the 1st Cavalry Brigade in the 1st Cavalry Division, part of the Expeditionary Force, in August 1914 for service on the Western Front. The regiment took part in the Great Retreat in August 1914, the Battle of Le Cateau in August 1914, the First Battle of the Marne in September 1914, the Battle of Messines in October 1914, the First Battle of Ypres in October 1914, the Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1916, the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917, the Battle of the Scarpe in August 1918 and in the final advance of Autumn 1918. [Wikipedia]

James McClure is recorded on the Bangor Parish
War Memorial in St. Comgall's Church

On the 27th March, the regiment crossed the Somme in support of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade and took up position filling in gaps in the line. At 10.30 on the morning of the 30th, the Germans commenced a bombardment of the front and at 12.30pm began an infantry assault.

James was killed in action in this assault, the War Diary recording that the regiment suffered 25 wounded, 2 missing and 7 killed on that day.