Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Astley a Shoe Finisher, born 1864 in Barwell, Leicestershire and his wife Betsy, born 1863 in Earl Shilton, Leicestershire. James was a Shoe Stock Room Hand and was born in 1898 in Barwell, Leicestershire, his siblings were Arthur, born 1883, Beatrice, born 1885, Millicent, born 1894, May, born 1896, Alfred, born 1900, Annie, born 1902 and Doris, born 1907, all his siblings were born in Barwell, Leicestershire. In April 1911 the family home was at 27, Stapleton Lane, Barwell, Leicestershire. His younger brother Alfred also died. The War Diary for today records that the Battalion entrained at Pont Remy station, one to leave at 3.00am, actual time of departure 5-1am. Arrived Fouquereuil at 2-10pm. Marched to Billets at Fouquieres les Bethune, accommodation very limited.