James Pirrie was born in Paisley, Scotland on June 26, 1897 (on his enlistment form, however, he recorded his place of birth as Sarnia). He was the son of John Alexander Pirrie and Marion Harkness (nee Wylie) Pirrie. Both his parents were originally from Scotland, but were later residing at 304 Campbell Street, Sarnia. James’ siblings included John (born 1891); Annie (born 1894); Catherine (born 1900); and Ferguson Stewart (born 1907). James enlisted July 12, 1915 in Sarnia with the 34th Battalion. At the time, he listed his occupation as a labourer and his marital status as single. He would later be transferred, becoming a member of the Army, Canadian Infantry, 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, 2nd Central Ontario Regiment, with the rank of Private. On October 26, 1917, James Pirrie would lose his life while fighting during the Battle of Passchendaele, Belgium. Another Sarnian, Charles Edwin Knight, would also lose his life in the same battle on the same day (also included in this project). James Pirrie would officially be listed as, Killed in Action. Attack west of Passchendaele. Twenty-year old James Pirrie has no known grave. He is memorialized on the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Belgium, Panel 30, 32. On the Sarnia cenotaph, his name is inscribed as J.M. Pierrie.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D, 2G