James Rae (1887-1916)
Sunderland man served as a private in Canadian Army killed at Zillebeke
Born in Sunderland on 3 August 1887, James’ parents are unknown; his only known relative is his brother John, known as Jack. At the time of James’ enlistment in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Jack was based at the Romsey Remount Depot in Hampshire.
James initially sailed for Canada on 9 June 1910, stating he was making for Bawlf, Alberta as a farmer, but he never made it ashore as he is marked as deported on the ship’s manifest. He returned to England and was successful on his second attempt to emigrate three months later.
James enlisted in London, Ontario on 18 September 1915, giving his occupation as a farmer. He named his brother, Jack, originally in Sunderland and then in Hampshire, as his next of kin and the beneficiary of his paybook will. James became Private 401572 attached to the 33rd Battalion which embarked for England on 17 March 1916, arriving a week later.
Transferred to the 7th Battalion in mid-May, Private 401572 arrived in France on 25 May and, after time spent at the Canadian Base depot, joined his new unit on 7 June in the Dominion Lines outside Ypres. Just a month later, on 6 July 1916, James Rae was killed in the railway dugouts at Zillebeke, and was buried in the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, south east of Ypres.
Civil Parish: Sunderland
Birth date: 03-Aug-1887
Death date: 06-Jul-1916
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Sunderland (birthplace)
Religion: Church of England
Employment: farmer (enlistment papers)
Family: Siblings: John (Jack) Rae
Military service:
401572
Private
33rd Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force
7th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Ypres, Belgium
Holy Trinity Church, Church Street East, Sunderland, book of remembrance (now at Donnison School and Heritage Centre, Church Walk, Sunderland)
Gender: Male
Contributed by Jean Longstaff, Durham