Private
Durham, James Edward
Unit
124th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Governor General's Body Guard)
Branch
Infantry
Service Component
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Service Number
210276
birth
1894/10/15
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
death
1917/08/20
Calais, France
grave
Calais Southern Cemetery, France
Gender
Male
James Edward Durham was born in Grimsby, Ontario, on 15 October 1894. He was the son of James and Mary Durham.
A fruit grower, Durham had three years’ experience in the pre-war militia as a member of the 44th Lincoln and Welland Regiment when he enlisted in the 98th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Lincoln and Welland) in Welland, Ontario, on 17 January 1916. After initial training in Canada, the battalion left for England on SS Lapland, embarking in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 16 July 1916. It arrived in England on 25 July 1916 and provided reinforcements to Canadian units in the field until 6 October 1916, when its personnel — including Durham — was absorbed by the 12th Reserve Battalion. Durham was transferred to the 124th (Pioneer) Battalion on 5 February 1917 and underwent final training for service in France. He embarked for the Western Front with the unit a month later.
On 9 August 1917, Durham was mortally wounded by shell fire. He died at No. 9 Red Cross Hospital, in Calais, France, 11 days later.
James Edward Durham is buried in Calais Southern Cemetery, in France.
