James McCoubrey was killed in action on this day in 1917

James McCoubrey was born in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim in 1888.

His parents were James and Margaret McCoubrey and he was a Protestant.

At the 1901 Census James was at home with his parents and younger brother William. Ten years later he was still at home, 35 Main Street, Ballymoney, and working as a painter. Age 20 he was at home with 12 year old brother William, his parents and two boarders.

James married Fanny and had four children, James, John, Isabella and Mary Jane.

He initially enlisted in April 1915 (in Belfast), into the 18th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles.

After training in Ireland, he was sent to France in mid-1916 to join the 12th Battalion of the same regiment in Belgium. James stayed in the Ypres - Armentieres area throughout his front-line service (mainly involved in routine trench holding duties).

James was killed in action on 2 June 1917 when his position was hit by about fifty 150mm shells in the vicinity of Regent St. Dugouts, near Wijtshaete/Kemmel.

It was the day he and his comrades were due to be relieved. Friends, Rifleman Hanna and Rifleman Wade were killed by the same shell and are buried in Pond Farm Cemetery besides James in adjacent graves.

James left a widow, Fanny and four children (James, John, Isabella and Mary Jane) who at the time of their father’s death would have been 10, 6, 4 and 2.

18/903 L/Cpl James McCoubrey, 12th Bn Royal Irish Rifles