James Patrick Roche (1886 – 7 June 1917) was an Irish athlete who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London for the United Kingdom.
[1] In the 100 metres, Roche won his first round heat with a time of 11.4 seconds to advance to the semifinals.
In that event, he had slightly better success in the semifinals but still lost to countryman George Hawkins.
Hawkins edged out Roche for the win (and the right to advance to the final); both were timed at 22.6 seconds.
[5] He had been awarded the Military Cross, and at the time of his death was serving as a Captain in the 47th Trench Mortar Battery of the Royal Field Artillery.