Born in Burslem  1886  to Thomas Bourne (1844) and Hannah (nee) Brindley (1852). James' family circumstances are open to suggestion as it appears his father Thomas was married twice, firstly to his biological mother Hannah Brindley, they married in 1869 and then to Sarah Simpson in 1898. Sarah Bourne is the name given as his mother on his service records. 

According to the 1891 census Thomas and Hannah had six children living with them, George (1869) who was then married to Harriet. Sarah Annie (1874), Joseph (1877), Annice (1886), Fanny/Francis (1884) and James (1886).  

Harriet Bourne died in 1892 which meant Sydney (1895) and Edna May (1900) were born to his second wife Sarah (nee) Simpson (1858) this is confirmed by the 1911 census whereby years of marriage were stated as 13 and children 2. Both Sydney Simpson and Edna May Bourne are living with them, Thomas and Sarah were married in 1898 so Sydney Simpson was a child to Sarah prior to her marriage to Thomas Bourne.  

Confusion is added when we look at the 1901 census where Thomas and Sarah have Frances (1884), William Charles (1885), James Henry (1886), George (1888) , Sydney(1895) and Edna May (1900). We can assume Frances is Fanny or Franny but the identities of William Charles and another George are confusing as they are not cited on the 1891 census with their parents.  

James married Mary Ann (nee) Hewitt born Burslem 28.07.1890-1976 on 30th August 1908 at St Johns Church, Burslem. They had four children, Josiah Bourne 1909 - 1985, Lily Bourne 1911 - 1978, Frank Bourne 1914 - 1933 and Mary Ann Bourne born in 1916. 

The 1911 census shows James and Mary Ann living at 6 King Street, Burslem, aged 24, employed in a Pottery slip house. His wife Mary Ann Bourne aged 20, employed in a China Warehouse , their children Josiah Bourne 17.03.1909 aged 2 years and  Lily Bourne  01.02.1911 aged 2 months . Mary Ann Price (1856) Aunt and Cornelius Machin (1866) Uncle were also resident . 

The 1921 census shows Mary Ann Bourne widowed working as a Potters Mouldrunner, with all four of James Bourne's children and a young two year old daughter called Winifrid Bourne. Household visitor Thomas Charles Cheshire aged 43 seems the most likely candidate for Winifred's father, in the 1939 register Mary Ann was found to be married to Thomas Charles Cheshire and living in Luton Bedfordshire with their youngest child Ivy born 1926.  

James first enlisted at Tunstall on the 31st August 1914 aged 28 as Pte 10992 North Staffordshire Regiment but was discharged on the 25th September 1914 under Kings Regulation 392 paragraph 3 being unlikely to become an efficient soldier. His given address was 25 Reid Street, Burslem and he was employed as a Clay Press Emptier. He was described as being aged 28, 5’4” tall, 106 lbs, 32” chest with 2" expansion, fair complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair.  Quite evidently James was undeterred by this and reapplied and joined the South Wales Boarderers , no records are available of when this would have been. 

James was killed on the 19th May 1917 at Arras ,France.

The 19th of May 1917 2nd battalion SWB Arras sector, Monchy Le Preux attack on enemy lines resulting in 6 ordinary ranks killed, 26 wounded, 44 missing - Information from Unit Intelligence Summary (war diary).

James Bourne was entitled to British War Medal and the Victory Medal. 

James has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Nord Pas De-Clais, France on panel 6 as well as the Royal Doulton Burslem Memorial.  

He was reported as missing in the Stafford Sentinel on the 03.07.1917.

Widows pension awarded to Mary Ann Bourne from  11.01.1918.

Source citation: 

https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?r=76327422:5548&d=bmd_1758609751. 

FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; War Office: Soldiers' Documents from Pension Claims, First World War (Microfilm Copies and Medical Cards); Reference: WO364; Piece: 316

Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 025/0097/Bou-Bow

British and Irish Military Databases. The Naval and Military Press Ltd.

1901 census Class: RG13; Piece: 2593; Folio: 162; Page: 36

1891 census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2164; Folio: 132; Page: 1; GSU roll: 6097274

1911 census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911

Private James Bourne | War Casualty Details 741606 | CWGC.