James McAleece was born in Stewartstown, County Tyrone. At the start of the War he was living at Ballyveney, Stewartstown. On the 1st July 1916 they were in the front line in readiness for the Somme Offensive. By the end of that day, 133 men of the 11th Royal Irish Rifles had been killed in action, including Lance Corporal McAleece.
The Thiepval Memorial will be found on the D73, next to the village of Thiepval, off the main Bapaume to Albert road (D929). Each year a major ceremony is held at the memorial on 1 July.
