10th Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment (Canadian Army)
Died:
26/04/1915 (Killed in Action)
Age:
35
Summary
James Arthurs was the son of Mary Arthurs. James Arthurs was born about 1880 in Dungannon. He was one of three children. Mary remarried about 1887, marrying John Harris. James served over eight years with the 39th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Before becoming a labourer. He emigrated about 1911. Prior to enlisting, James was working as a labourer in Canada Private James Arthurs was serving with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment when he was killed in action near St Julien on 26th April 1915.
Further Information
James Arthurs was the son of Mary Arthurs. James Arthurs was born about 1880 in Dungannon. He was one of three children.
Mary remarried about 1887. She married John Harris.
James had a half-sister, Mary Ann Arthurs / Harris, who was born about 1885.
The 1901 census does not list James as living with his step-family at house 4 in Woodhill, Tullyniskane, Newmills. John Harris was a farmer.
Canadian enlistment papers report that he had served over eight years with the 39th Battery, Royal Field Artillery.
The 1911 census lists James as age 30, living with the family at house 5 in Woodhill, Tullyniskane. James was a labourer.
Canadian immigration records list a James Arthurs who arrived alone at Quebec in August 1911, bound for Foxwarren. He was Irish and Church of Ireland, age 29. He had been a farm labourer since 1896.
Prior to enlisting, James was working as a labourer in Canada
James Arthurs enlisted on 26th September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec. He listed his next of kin as his sister, Mary Arthurs, who was livening in Dungannon. He was 5' 9" tall.
Private James Arthurs was serving with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment when he was killed in action near St Julien on 26th April 1915.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 19th August 1915:
The Canadian Record Office announces that James M Arthurs, Dungannon, is reported missing.
The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that Private Arthurs was reported missing, but for official purposes, he was presumed to have died on or since 26th April 1915. His unit was in the vicinity of St Julien at the time of his death.
Private James Arthurs has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres in Belgium.
Private James Arthurs is commemorated locally on Newmills L.O.L. 183 Roll of Honour, in on the WW1 Memorial in Newmills Parish Church and on Dungannon War Memorial.
James Arthur’s only surviving relative was the infant son of his deceased half-sister, Mary Anne Harris, of Woodhill in Newmills, Dungannon.
