James Banks was born in Nidderdale, in the eastern Yorkshire Dales, 1878
His father was William and his mother, Elizabeth (née Thornberry).
James had five brothers and four sisters. Two brothers emigrated, one to California, the other to Canada.
Age 3 at the 1881 England Census James was with his parents and five other siblings in Stonebeck Up where his father was an agricultural labourer.
Age 13 at the 1891 England Census the family has now expanded to ten children and they lived in Nidderdale. All four of James' older brothers were working as 'farm servants' while father was a 'farm bailiff'.
Age 22 at the 1901 England Census, James was working as a farm labourer for a cattle farmer and living with the Lambert family.
James was the only casualty for this battalion this day (they were in reserve in the vicinity of Beaucourt sur Ancre at the time of his death).
A victim of German shell-fire, James was 38 years old.
He is now buried at Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel.
James' younger brother Robert also served during the Great War, but only until he was discharged having been found to be deaf.
At the time of his death his mother Elizabeth had moved to the village of Buckden further north west in the Yorkshire Dales.
13189 Pte James Banks, 8th Bn Duke of Wellington's (W Riding) Regiment.
11 January 1917
Initial research by David O'Mara with additional research by Jonathan Vernon.
Sources: England Census 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911; Pension Ledgers and Cards from The Western Front Association digital archive on Fold3 by Ancestry.