James McClure was born May 15, 1920, in Norval, near Toronto, the son of William Alexander McClure (born in Brooke Township, Lambton County, Ontario) and Edna Isabella (nee Bissell) McClure, of 249 Cromwell Street, Sarnia. For James’s mother Edna, this was her second marriage. She had married Victor Ivinson in 1914, but he died in February 1916. They had one son together, Edward Leland Ivinson, born in February of 1916. Later in 1916, Edna married again, this time to William Alexander McClure, and the family lived in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. In August of 1921, William Alexander, a local grocer, died at Sarnia General Hospital. James lost his father when he was just over one year old.

James had one sister, Alma, and three brothers: John William Alexander ‘Jack’, Donald Leonard (see above), and Edward Ivenson. At the time of James’ death, Jack was living in Sarnia; Edward was in the U.S. Navy and stationed at the Naval Station in Pensacola, Florida; and Donald who was also a member of the Canadian Army, had been killed in action prior to James. James was educated at Sarnia public schools and Sarnia Collegiate. James (Jim) was very interested in farming, so after leaving high school, he spent three years on a farm. Following that, James McClure sailed for one season on the S.S. Huronic.

Single at the time of his enlistment, he recorded his occupation as a labourer. He joined in the Canadian Army on January 9, 1941, and was trained at Chatham, Windsor, London, Kitchener and Petawawa Camp. After completing training, James married Miss Norma Gehm, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Gehm of Wilcox, Saskatchewan on May 2, 1942 in a quiet ceremony at the military camp chapel at Petawawa. The couple were attended by Gunner Sidney Morr, R.C.A. and Gunner Lloyd Illman, R.C.A.. After their marriage, the newlywed couple resided at 215 ½ North Christina Street, Sarnia. James McClure would later be transferred to Debert, Nova Scotia, and was then posted to the east coast in Labrador in June 1942, serving with the 30th Anti-Aircraft Battery unit for 13 months. Part of this unit’s role was to guard the airport in Labrador while it was under construction. Jim went from there to St.John, New Brunswick, with the Royal Canadian Artillery. In late July of 1943, James’ younger brother Donald, a member of the Canadian Tanks Corp, would lose his life during the Battle of Sicily.

It was at this time that the army was short in Infantry Reserves. Due to this shortage, Jim returned to Ipperwash Camp in February 1944, where he had eight weeks training in an infantry course. He went overseas in May of 1944, arriving first in England and then in Italy early in July, as a member of the Perth Regiment R.C.I.C.. Not long after arriving at the Italian Front, James transferred to the Royal Canadian Regiment. On December 13, 1944, Private James McClure would lose his life while fighting in Italy, during the Italian Campaign. In late December of 1944, Norma McClure, residing at 249 Cromwell Street, Sarnia, would receive word from Padre Goldring of M.D. No. 1 headquarters, London informing her that her husband, Private Jim McClure has been killed in action in Italy.

James McClure would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, killed in action, in the field (Italy). Twenty-four year old James McClure is buried in Villanova Canadian War Cemetery, Italy, Grave VII.A.10. Two months after James’ death, on February 13, 1945, his wife Norma would give birth to their daughter, born in the C.E.E. Hospital in Petrolia. Baby girl McClure was baptized in Central United Church. For James’ widowed mother Edna in Sarnia, this was her second son lost in the war. She had previously lost her son Donald, who had been killed in action the previous July in 1943 in Sicily. In mid-April of 1945, a memorial service was held for Private James McClure at Central United Church in Sarnia.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, N, S, 2C