Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Benjamin James Addison a teamster, born 1865 in Saham, Norfolk and his wife Hannah Elizabeth Addison (nee Rose, married on the 16th November 1890 in Saham Toney, Norfolk), born 1873 in Saham, and who was the daughter of William Rose of Saham Toney. James William was born in the 1st quarter of 1893 in Saham, his siblings were Maud Rose, born 1895, Ben, born 1897, Arthur, born 1898 and Harry Charles, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Saham, in March 1901 the family home was at Heron Cottage, Hilborough, Norfolk. In April 1911 James was employed as a farm labourer and horseman and was residing in the family home at Great Casterton, Rutland, together with his father, a farm cowman, his mother and siblings, Ben, a farm cowboy, Harry, a schoolboy, John a schoolboy, born 1905 and Phillis Maud, born 1908 the latter two siblings were both born in Breckles, Norfolk. The memorial inside the church shows his name as Henry W. Addison. James had been a bandsman with the local Salvation Army Corps., in connection which he was described as a "hard worker and a faithful warrior." He embarked for France in early 1915, and was killed on the Somme. He had just previously won praise from the Major General commanding the Division of the B.E.F. by reason of his fine work, but was killed before the honour could be bestowed upon him, and the gold letter-card recounting his deeds was forwarded to his parents. In sending this, and informing Private Addison’s father and mother of his death, his Platoon Officer wrote:- “He volunteered for this duty (patrol). This is only a small illustration of the willingness with which he did his duty. I knew him as platoon runner, and I could always rely on him to do his duty as a good soldier and a fearless one.”
The War Diary records: 20 Nov-16 – Our trench mortars and Stokes Guns fired on enemy trenches at intervals during the day. Machine guns of both sides were active at night. Weather fine. Casualties. Other ranks 1 killed. Reinforcements, 5 other ranks joined.