| James Lucas was the second son of Charles and Mary Lucas. Charles Lucas and Mary Shannon were married on 8th July 1887 in the district of Dungannon.
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| James Lucas was born on 31st January 1893. He was one of nine children, all born in the Dungannon area.
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| The 1901 census records as an 8 year old schoolboy. Charles was a farmer. The family was living at Killyliss, Castlecaulfield.
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| Family: Charles Lucas, Mary Lucas, William Lucas (born 24th November 1890), James Lucas (born 31st January 1893), Charles Lucas (born 26th April 1895), Mary Lucas (born 11th June 1897, died 4th July 1897), Anne Lucas (born 20th November 1898), Samuel Lucas (born 2nd October 1900), Robert J Lucas (born 14th February 1903), Priscilla Lucas (born 1st February 1906), David Lucas (born 19th September 1909).
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| By the time of the 1911 census, James was no longer living with the family, who were still living at Killyliss, Castlecaulfield.
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| James emigrated to Canada where he worked as a coachman.
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| James Lucas enlisted on 7th October 1915 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was 22 years old and single. He names his father Charles as his next of kin.
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| In November 1915, he was admitted to a mobile hospital with sprained wrist.
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| Private Lucas left for overseas on 4th February 1916.
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| On 5th June 1917 he sprained his right ankle.
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| On 17th January 1918, he was promoted to the rank of corporal.
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| Corporal James Lucas was serving with the Fort Garry Horse when he was wounded on 1st April 1918. He received gunshot wound to head and both thighs.
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| Corporal James Lucas died of gas inflection on 9th April 1918 at No 9 General Hospital, Rouen, France. He was 25 years old.
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| The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that Corporal Lucas M.M. died of wounds on 9th April 1918 at No 9 General Hospital, Rouen, France.
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| From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 25 April 1918:
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| Charles and Mrs Lucas of Killyliss, Dungannon, have received official notice that their second son, corporal James Lucas, of the 34th Regiment, Fort Garry Horse, who volunteered in Winnipeg, Canada after the outbreak of the war and has been for the past two years on active service in France, was wounded and died of gas inflection while undergoing an operation on 9th April at No 9 General Hospital, Rouen, France, and was buried with military honours. His parents are grateful that everything possible was done to try and save his life, both by doctors, nurses and chaplain, but contrary to all expectations he passed away without regaining consciousness. Mr and Mrs Lucas also wish to thank their friends for their kind expressions of sympathy.
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| On 3rd July 1918 Corporal James Lucas was posthumously awarded the military medal for bravery in the field.
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| Medals were sent to mother and father at Killyliss, Dungannon.
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| Corporal J Lucas M.M. is buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.
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| Corporal James Lucas M.M. is commemorated locally on the WWI Plaque in Castlecaulfield Church of Ireland and on Dungannon War Memorial.
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| James Lucas is also commemorated on the family plot on their headstone in the grounds of Castlecaulfield Church of Ireland. The inscription reads ‘Their son Corporal James Lucas F.C.H. died 9th April 1918, aged 25 years’.
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