1066115 Pte. James Henry Fleming was born on August 3rd, 1896, in Owen Sound, Ontario and was working as a sailor when hostilities broke out.
When the 248th Battalion C.E.F. was authorized, twenty year old James volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force, attesting to the new battalion on January 23th, 1917. Sailing with the unit in May of that year, the 248th Battalion was absorbed into the 8th Reserve Battalion upon its arrival in England.
James was taken on strength of the 4th C.M.R. in the field on November 16th, 1917. Severely spraining his ankle in early January 1918, he was medically evacuated and did not return to the 4th C.M.R. until mid-July, just in time to take part in the battles that made up the final 100 days of the war.
As soon as the armistice took effect on Novermber 11th, 1918, James was granted 14 days leave and was struck off strength of the 4th C.M.R. on May 25th, 1919.
Upon discharge James resided in Hamilton for a number of years before returning to Owen Sound, where he passed away on March 19th, 1969, aged 72. James Henry Fleming was laid to rest in Owen Sound's Greenwood Cemetery.
Credit and thanks for this biography go to George Auer.