David and Sarah had been married in Donegall Pass Presbyterian Church, Belfast, in 1890, and had moved to Glasgow where their first two children were born, Agnes in 1894 and James in 1896. Sometime within the next two years, the family had returned to Belfast, and Sarah gave birth to a daughter Nelly in 1898. Another child David was born in 1899, but by 1901, just a few days before the census was taken, baby David died from enteritis and convulsions. They added a final child John to their family in 1902 but their family was dealt another blow, their eldest child Agnes died from TB aged just 11 in 1905. In 1911, James, his parents, and his remaining siblings were living in Rowan Street, just up the street from Henry McKnight and his 4 brothers.

James enlisted as a Private in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers entering the war in Gallipoli on 11th July 1915. He was listed as wounded in the Dardanelles only 1 month later. He was killed within the year, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme - 1st July 1916. He was the third of Sarah and David’s children to die.

James was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory medal which was sent to his next of kin in 1922. The family remembers that his mother never accepted his death and on receiving the 'Death Penny' she threw it away.

He is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial in France.

The family of James' sister Nelly say that James Reid was over six foot tall.

They also remember that he had to have his boots specially made as his feet were so big!

James was identified by Kathleen Morrison.