838233 Pte. James Elmer Garfield Acton was born in Bruce County in the small village of Chesley, Ontario, on August 4th, 1890.


Moving to the neighbouring County of Grey, James was living in Owen Sound, where he was a congregational member of Knox United Church.


When hostilities broke out, James was among the first to join the two independent Company of men being raised by the County's Militia unit, the 31st Regiment.


Twenty-five year old James attested to the 147th Battalion on November 30th, 1915, when the two independent infantry companies were assigned to the new battalion. The 147th Battalion was billeted locally over the winter of 1915, moving to Camp Niagara in the spring of 1916. Due to poor living conditions at Niagara, training was moved to Camp Borden.


Sailing for England in November of 1916, the 147th Battalion became one of the units used to form the 8th Reserve Battalion in January of 1917. James would be join the 4th C.M.R. in the field through a draft of reinforcements after the Battle of Arras in 1917, a battle that saw the Canadian Corps carry Vimy Ridge.


In October of 1917 James transferred to the Brigade Trench Mortar Battery and served with them for the remainder of the war. He was officially struck off strength of the 4th C.M.R. on August 14th, 1918.


James passed away on May 10th, 1964, aged 73. He lies at rest in Greenwood Cemetery in Owen Sound, Ontario.






Biography details credit: George Auer