Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Bird a coal miner, born in the 3rd quarter of 1865 in Coalville, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Bird (nee Wyatt, married in the 4th quarter of 1884 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district), born in the 1st quarter of 1867 in Coalville. James was born on the 26th November 1888 in Coalville, his siblings were Sarah Jane born in the 1st quarter of 1885 and Elizabeth, born in the 2nd quarter of 1887, both his siblings were born in Coalville, in April 1891 the family home was at Marshalls Buildings, Station Street, Whitwick, Leicestershire. In March 1901 James was residing in the family home at Margaret Street, Coalville, together with his widowed father, a coal miner and his siblings, Sarah, Elizabeth, Isabella, born 21st January1895, Ada, born 28th October 1896, and Jane Ann, born 27th August 1898, the latter three siblings were all born in Coalville. In April 1891 James was employed as a coal miner and was residing in the family home at Ashby Road, Coalville, together with his father, a below ground coal miner and charge man and his siblings, Ada and Jane a schoolgirl.
James enlisted into the Regular Army on the 21st September 1914 in Coalville, and was allotted the service number 15419. He gave his place of birth as Coalville, Leicestershire and age as 23 years 314 days. Marital status as single and his trade or calling as collier.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 feet 5¼ inches in height, weighed 146 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches, his complexion was described as dark, he had grey eyes and his hair colour was brown, his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, James Bird, Ashby Road, Coalville. Sister, Jane Ann, Ashby Road, Coalville. Sister, Isabella Smith, Ibstock, Leicester. Sister, Jennie Cooper, Whitwick, Leicester.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. At Coalville. 21/9/14.
Joined. Depot. Leicestershire Regt. Private. 22/9/14.
Joined. 8th (Service) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Aldershot. 29/9/14.
Folkestone. 28/2/15.
Perham Down. 8/4/15.
Embarked. Folkestone. 29/7/15.
Awarded. 14 days Field Punishment No.1. In the field. 29/11/15.
Admitted. To 14th Divisional Rest Station suffering from I.C.T. In the Field. 27/7/16.
Transferred. To 64th Field Ambulance suffering from I.C.T. In the Field. 27/7/16.
Admitted. To 21st Divisional Rest Station suffering from a boil on the leg. In the Field. 29/7/16.
Admitted. To 37th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from -?- lymph gland. In the Field. 7/8/16.
Admitted. To 6th General Hospital, Rouen suffering from I.C.T. 11/8/16.
Transferred. To England per Hospital Ship Salta. 15/8/16.
Admitted. Hospital Dublin. Gunshot wound thigh. Wounded about six weeks ago at Fricourt. Bullet removed in France. 17/8/16 to 13/9/16.
Posted. 212 Depot. 17/8/16.
Transferred. To Military Convalescent Hospital, Hollywood, County Down. 13/9/16 to 20/10/16. Discharged. To 10 days furlough and duty. 20/10/16.
Attached. 14th Training Reserve Battalion. 30/10/16.
Posted. 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 18/1/17.
Forfeits. Pay for absence from 17/1/17 to 22/1/17.
Embarked. From Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force, France. 2/2/17.
Posted. 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 4/2/17.
Posted. To 6th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 19/2/17.
Joined. 6th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 20/2/17.
Admitted. To 96th C. P. Field Ambulance suffering from a gunshot wound to the right leg and foot. In the Field. 13/4/17.
Transferred. To 32nd Casualty Clearing Station. 13/4/17.
Transferred. To 6th British Red Cross Hospital, Etaples. 15/4/17.
Transferred. To Liverpool Merchants General Hospital. 16/4/17.
Transferred. To England per Hospital Ship Wanilla. 16/4/17.
Admitted. To Netley Hospital. Gunshot wound right thigh and foot. 27/4/17 to 25/5/17.
Transferred. To Fareham House, Fareham. 25/5/17 to 15/6/17.
Transferred. To Netley Hospital. 15/6/17 to 29/6/17.
Discharged. To furlough and duty. 29/6/17.
Posted. Depot. Leicestershire Regt. 10/7/17.
Embarked. Folkestone. 23/7/17.
Posted. 12th Infantry Brigade Depot. British Expeditionary Force. 24/7/17.
Posted. 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 25/7/17.
Posted. 2/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. (T.F.). Under Army Order 204/16 and Army Order 1499/16 15/8/17.
Posted. “C” Company. 16/8/17.
Killed in action. In the Field. 26/9/17.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 21/9/14 – 28/7/15. 311 days. 311 days.
Expeditionary Force France. 29/7/15 – 16/8/16. 1 year 20 days.
Home Service. 17/8/16 – 2/2/17. 246 days.
Expeditionary Force France. 3/2/17 – 23/7/17. 171 days.
Expeditionary Force France. 24/7/17 – 26/9/17. 65 days.
Total Service 3 years 83 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
James’ surviving service record amounts to a total of twenty five pages and these are in fair condition and offer a reasonably accurate overall description of events that took place during his period of his military service.
The War Diary records: 26 Sep-17 - HILL 37. Shelling not quite so heavy as previous days. Periods of comparative quiet. Back areas bombarded with high explosive and gas shells at night. 2nd Lieutenant L. ROWBATHAN died of wounds, 2nd Lieutenant S. W. G. TALLIS wounded.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 26th, 1917

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Official news has been received, that Private James Bird, of the Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action by a piece of shrapnel on September 26th. His parents reside at 55, Ashby Road, Coalville his father, Mr James Bird, being employed at the Snibston Colliery, where the deceased also worked before the war. He was a single man, 27 years of age, and enlisted three years last September.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 24/12/2017