Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Michael Cairns a coal miner, born 1855 in Galway, Ireland and his wife Mary, born 1857 in Wolverhampton, Staffs. James a glass bottle works labourer was born in 1888 in Whtwick, Leics., his siblings were, John, born 1879 in Leics., Michael, born 1883 and Ann, born 1887, the latter two siblings were both born in Tunstall, Staffs., Mary E., born 1892 and Martin, born 1894, the latter two siblings were both born in Whitwick, Leics., and Patrick, born 1898 in Denaby, Yorks., in March 1901 the family home was at 16, Queen Street, New Scarbro, Wombwell, Yorks. In April 1911, James was employed as a coal miner and was residing in the family home at 13, Thornhill Street, Denaby Main, Yorks., together with his wife Bridget, born 1888 in Whitwick, Leics., also residing with the family were his parents and siblings, Ann, Martin and Patrick, and his cousin Katherine Cairns, born 1896 in Denaby, Yorks. In the October, November, December quarter of 1920, James’ widow Bridget married William Cutler in the Ashby de la Zouch marriage registration district, and they then resided at 29, Talbot Street, Whitwick, Leics.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 15th, 1915

Two Whitwick Soldiers Killed - Memorial Service at Holy Cross Church.

To the roll of honour has to be added the names of two more Whitwick soldiers – Ptes. Frank Underwood and James Cairns.

Underwood is the son of Mr Jno. Underwood, of Pare’s Hill, Whitwick, and news that he has been killed in action in France was received in letters received a day or so ago from his lieutenant and the chaplain who officiated at the funeral service. The deceased soldier was in the 8th Leicesters, having joined Kitchener’s Army soon after the outbreak of war. He was a single man, and formerly worked at the Forest Rock Quarry, Whitwick. His brother Jack is also in the army serving in France.

Pte. Cairns was in the Connaught Rangers, and was killed in action in the Dardanelles on August 21st, though the news was only recently to hand. He left Whitwick before the war broke out to reside in Yorkshire, where he had obtained work. He was 27 years of age, a native of Whitwick, and as a boy attended the Holy Cross School, later working at the Whitwick Colliery. He leaves a widow, a Whitwick woman (nee Newell), and three children, and he has two brothers doing their bit ‘somewhere in France’.

A memorial service for Cairns was held at the Whitwick Holy Cross Church on Sunday evening, when there was a large congregation. The requiem service was conducted by the Rev. M. J. O’Reilly and Father Commons, professor of Ratcliffe College, preached an impressive sermon and gave the benediction. The members of the Whitwick and Thringstone Citizen Corps were present and also the Whitwick Boy Scouts. Four soldiers, with reversed arms, were guards of the catafalque. After the requiem service, the organist, Mrs Carter, played the Dead March, and one of the Boy Scout buglers sounded the “Last Post.” The service concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.

A memorial service for Pte. Underwood is to be held at the Whitwick Parish Church on Sunday next.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 15th, 1918

WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED AT WHITWICK

TABLET IN HOLY CROSS CHURCH

The Bishop of Nottingham, the Rev. Father Dunn, unveiled a memorial tablet in the Whitwick Holy Cross Church, on Sunday containing the names of 12 men, formerly connected with the church, who have made the supreme sacrifice in the war. The names and dates each recorded on small square bronze plates, and fixed on the tablet in three columns, are as follows:

Private James Cairns, Connaught Rangers, killed in action, August 21st, 1915.
Private A. C. Johnstone, 8th Leicesters, killed in action, September 1st, 1915.
Sapper B. Whittaker, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, September 25th, 1915.
Private Edward Jarvis, Grenadier Guards, killed in action, October 17th, 1915.
Private Ed Hunt, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, January 7th, 1916.
Private C. Stanford, 8th Leicesters, killed in action, July 14th, 1916.
Private Jos. Sheffield, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, September 26th, 1916.
Lance-Corporal B. Morley, 2nd Leicesters, killed in action, April 23rd, 1917.
Private Harold Edwin Ketcher, 12th Northumberland Fusiliers, killed in action, June 16th, 1917
Corporal A. Concannon, M.M. Sherwood Foresters, killed in action, July 31st, 1917.
Private William Beasley, 1st Leicesters, killed in action, September 11th, 1917.
Rifleman L. Haywood, Scottish Rifles, torpedoed at sea, December 30th, 1917.

The tablet, which is surmounted by a crucifix, reads, “In memory of our devoted heroes who fell in the great war. Your prayers are requested for the repose of the souls of (names)”.

At the foot appear the words, “May they rest in peace.” Space is left for the addition of any further names if this becomes necessary. There was a large congregation, including the relatives of the deceased soldiers, and after the unveiling, a memorial service was held. This was conducted by the Rev. M. J. O’Reilly, assisted by Father Degan of Coalville, and the Bishop preached the sermon.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from the Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 09/09/2017