Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Carey, a dyer’s labourer, born 17th February 1860 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and his wife Rachael Carey (formerly Leavesley, nee Roby, married on the 22nd May 1887 in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough), born 1851 in Loughborough. James was born in the 4th quarter of 1890 in Loughborough, his half blood siblings were, Frederick Leavesley, a hosiery framework knitter, born 3rd December 1870 and Thomas Leavesley, a needle maker, born in the 3rd quarter of 1877, both siblings were born in Loughborough, in April 1891 the family home was at Park Row, Park Road, Loughborough. In March 1901 James was residing in the family home at 24, Hastings Street, Loughborough, together with his father, a dyer’s labourer, his mother and half blood siblings Sarah Ann Leavesley, a hosiery trade worker, born 1874 and Edwin Leavesley, a hosiery trade worker, born 8th February 1884, the latter two half blood siblings were both born in Loughborough, and his siblings, Florence, born 11th March 1889 and Elsie May, born 16th May 1894, the latter two siblings were both born in Loughborough. In April 1911 James was employed as a hosiery trade trimmer and was residing in the family home at 4, Broad Street, Loughborough, together with his father, a hosiery trade dyer’s labourer, his mother and half blood siblings, Sarah Leavesley, a hosiery trade sorter and Edwin Leavesley, a hosiery trade dyer’s labourer and his siblings Florence, a hosiery trade Griswold frame worker and Elsie, a hosiery trade turner. On the 25th October 1913 James married Alice Garton, in St. Peter’s Church, Loughborough, Alice was born in 1892 in Loughborough, they had a daughter, Hilda May, born on the 20th March 1914 and baptised on the 5th December 1915 in St. Peter’s Church, Loughborough. James’ widow married Frank Barrett on the 21st September 1921 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough. James also had two other half blood siblings, Emma Leavesley, born 1876 and Clara Leavesley, born 1881, both born in Loughborough, his mother died in December 1936 in Loughborough, aged 85 and his father died in March 1947 in Loughborough, aged 87.
NOTE: James mother had previously married William Leavesley in the 3rd quarter of 1870 in Loughborough, William was born in 1851 in Loughborough, he died in the 4th quarter of 1885 in Loughborough, aged 34.
James’ Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the South Staffordshire Regiment, being allotted the service number 24414, and was posted as a Private to the 11th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. He was shown to have been discharged on the 15th May 1916, no reason is given, he was later recorded to have died after discharge on the 14th May 1918 and his sole legatee is shown as his widow, Alice. There is no record of him having been awarded a Silver War Badge, nor is there any record of him being awarded any campaign medals, and on this basis it appears that James did not enter the theatre of war and his discharge must have been due to unfitness for active war service.