James McGale

A Guardsman with the 1st Battalion, James died on 26 January 1944, aged 36. 

James was born at Tyrone, Northern Ireland, in 1908, a son of James and Rosana McGale. 

In 1937 James was living in London and he married Violet Mary Goddard, their marriage was registered in the Southwark district. Violet was born at Kessingland. Violet remarried in 1944 and for a time lived in Canada before returning to live at Somerleyton.   

James served with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. His battalion landed at Anzio, Italy, on 22 January 1944. On the night of 25 January the battalion were ordered to make a reconnaissance ‘in force’ towards the Campoleone crossroads and this advance began the next day. James was killed in action during the battle for Campoleone.