Private James Albert Lacey
11903 2nd Coldstream Guards
Killed in Action 22nd July 1916, aged 30
Lived at 7 Towneley Street
Buried in Essex Farm Cemetery, Belgium - I.Q.8.
Burnley Express 5th August 1916 - 12th August 1916 Commemorated on Elim Primitive Methodists Memorial

SHOT BY SNIPER.
Burnley Guardsman’s Death.
(Burnley Express 05/08/16)
“We are not in the fighting, so be of good cheer. There is a silver lining, so just buck up.” These sentences occurred in a letter received on Thursday of last week by Mrs Lacy, of 7 Townley Street, Burnley, from her husband, Private James Albert Lacy, of the Coldstream Guards. The very next day however, she received unofficial news that he had been shot by a sniper. Private Lacy was 30 years of age, and was formerly a tackler at Messrs Whitehead & Leaver’s Mill. He enlisted on September 10th, 1914, and went out to the front on the following February 5th. He was connected with Elim Primitive Methodist Church. Mrs Lacy, who is left with two children, had previously lost her brother, *Lance Corporal Lawson, of Heap Street, who was killed in action.
The first news of his death came in a letter from Corporal G. Smith, who wrote:- “It is with regrets that I write these few lines to you to announce the death of your husband Private J. Lacy. He was killed yesterday, the 22nd July, by a German sniper. His death was a painless one. He was shot instantaneously. Your husband died a brave man, and I have to send the sympathy of his comrades to you in your sad bereavement. We will miss him very much, for he was a jolly sort. He was buried in the cemetery behind the firing line. I thought I would write, because me and Jim were very intimate friends, because I belong to Blackburn. In this letter I am enclosing a ring I took of his finger, also his cap badge.”
Sergeant T. Beardsmore also wrote:- “Being the platoon Sergeant of your husband, I beg to offer my sympathy with that of the remainder of the platoon to which your husband belonged, in your bereavement. No doubt by this you have had particulars from the War Office. Your husband was killed by a sniper about 9-16pm on the 22nd July, death being instantaneous, for he was shot in the head. He was a good soldier, and greatly respected by myself and his comrades. I am enclosing a few postcards which were found on him. Your husband was lying down at the time, and you will see where the bullet skimmed through the cards and out again, and entered his head, underneath the chin.”