James Barclay was born July 7, 1923 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the youngest son of George (John) and Anne Barclay. He and his family moved to Sarnia when James was two years old. At wartime, George and Anne Barclay and family resided at 512 Campbell Street, Sarnia. James had one brother, Alex, who would also serve in the army during the war. James Barclay attended Johnston Memorial and Russell Street Schools and worked at the Canadian National Railway, listing himself as a labourer. He enlisted in the Canadian army in London, Ontario in September 1941.
Brother Alex, with the rank of Gunner, would arrive overseas in December of 1941, with the Royal Canadian Artillery. James Barclay would arrive overseas in early February of 1943. While overseas, at one time the two brothers, both in the army, would be stationed only four miles apart for six months. On one occasion, the two Barclay brothers, James and Alex, would spend two days together. James would attain the rank of Private with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.
On September 26, 1943 while overseas, James was involved in a motorcycle accident when his motorcycle crashed into a 3-ton lorry. He died one day later as a result of his injuries. Parents George and Anne Barclay in Sarnia would initially receive a telegram informing them that their son James was involved in an accident. A few days later, they would receive another telegram from Ottawa informing them that their son, Pte. James Barclay, died in an army hospital overseas, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident the previous day. The telegram stated that the cause of James’ death was severe cranial cerebral injury due to motorcycle accident on duty Sunday. The parents were given no details as to how or where the accident that took the life of their son occurred, nor were they given any word as to the funeral. Parents John and Anne hoped that his brother Alex would be able to attend the funeral services in England. Later, his death certificate would list his cause of death as, fractured skull, laceration of the brain, severe cranial cerebral injury due to motorcycle accident while on duty. Twenty-year old James Barclay is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, United Kingdom, Grave 45.J.10. On James’s headstone are inscribed the words, At peace in Jesus’ arms safe and secure from all harms.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D