James Henry Bourne was born on 1 May 1886 at 5 Wellington Street, Burslem, to Thomas Bourne, a Carter (born c. 1844), and Hannah Bourne, née Brindley (born c. 1852). James's family circumstances are open to interpretation. His father, Thomas, was married twice. He married his first wife, James's biological mother, Hannah Brindley, on 16 August 1869 at St John’s, Burslem, Staffordshire. 

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

Hannah Bourne died in 1892. This indicates that Sydney (born 1895) and Edna May (born 1900) were born to Thomas's second wife, Sarah, née Simpson (born 1858). This is confirmed by the 1911 census, which states they had been married for 13 years and had two children. Because Thomas and Sarah married in 1898, Sydney Simpson was evidently Sarah's child from before her marriage to Thomas Bourne.

Further confusion arises in the 1901 census, where Thomas and Sarah are listed with Frances (1884), William Charles (1885), James Henry (1886), George (1888), Sydney (1895), and Edna May (1900). While Frances is likely Fanny, the identities of William Charles and this second George remain unclear, as they did not appear with the family on the 1891 census.

James Henry Bourne married Mary Ann Bourne (née Hewitt; 28 July 1890 – 1976) on 30 August 1908 at St John's Church, Burslem. They had four children: Josiah Bourne (1909–1985), Lily Bourne (1911–1978), Frank Bourne (1914–1933), and Mary Ann Bourne (born 1916).

The 1911 census shows James and Mary Ann living at 6 King Street, Burslem. James was 24 years old and employed in a pottery slip house. His wife, Mary Ann, was 20 years old and employed in a china warehouse. Their children were Josiah Bourne (born 17 March 1909, aged 2) and Lily Bourne (born 1 February 1911, aged 2 months). The household also included Mary Ann Price (born 1856, aunt) and Cornelius Machin (born 1866, uncle).

The 1921 census shows Mary Ann Bourne widowed and working as a Potter's Mouldrunner. She was living with all four of James Bourne's children, as well as a two-year-old daughter named Winifred Bourne. A household visitor, Thomas Charles Cheshire (aged 43), seems the most likely candidate for Winifred's father. In the 1939 register, Mary Ann was married to Thomas Charles Cheshire. They were 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 King's 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 Borderers; 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 the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. 

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

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

Widow's 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.