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CWM 20050185-013
George Metcalf Archival Collection
Canadian War Museum
CWM 20050185-013 George Metcalf Archival Collection Canadian War Museum
CWM 20050185-011
George Metcalf Archival Collection
Canadian War Museum
CWM 20050185-011 George Metcalf Archival Collection Canadian War Museum
CWM 20050185-010
George Metcalf Archival Collection
Canadian War Museum
CWM 20050185-010 George Metcalf Archival Collection Canadian War Museum
CWM 20050185-026
George Metcalf Archival Collection
Canadian War Museum
CWM 20050185-026 George Metcalf Archival Collection Canadian War Museum
CWM 20050185-017
George Metcalf Archival Collection
Canadian War Museum
CWM 20050185-017 George Metcalf Archival Collection Canadian War Museum
CWM 19920166-1780
CWM 19920166-1780

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.

The Canadian War Museum’s Collection includes the following artifacts for this recipient