Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division
James Lane was born on 3 March 1898 at Pound Cottage, Longhope, Gloucestershire.
He was one of two children, the only son of Alfred William and Mary Lane. His father, a woodsawyer, died in October 1912 aged 45 years, and some time after this James and his mother moved to live at Fairview, Horton Road, Gloucester.
His service record shows him as being on Army Reserve on 7 June 1916, entered 20 June 1917, drafted for the BEF on 13 October 1917, and posted to Howe Battalion, 63rd Royal Naval Division on 14 November 1917.
The photograph taken with his mother shows him wearing the Howe Battalion cap badge, and Lewis Gunner’s sleeve badge.
He was invalided to the UK on 18 January 1918 suffering with trench foot. Having recovered, he was drafted for the BEF on 11 September 1918 and joined Drake Battalion, RND on 15 September 1918.
He was listed as missing on 27 September 1918 in the crossing of the Canal du Nord and was later reported as killed in action, or died of wounds, on that day. He was 20 years of age. He was buried at Moeuvres Communal Cemetery Extension close to the canal.
He is not commemorated on any memorials in the village of his birth, but is probably the ‘Lane J.’ remembered on the Gloucester City War Memorial in The Park at Gloucester.