James Smallwood was born on 25th March 1885, the second son of Jonathan Smallwood, who farmed at Roydlands Farm, Hipperholme, Halifax and his wife Frances née Sucksmith. Through his mother, James was a relative of the Sucksmith brothers Private Aaron Sucksmith (1889 – 1916), Private Walter Sucksmith (1890 – 1916), Private James Sucksmith (1894 – 1949) and Private Leonard Sucksmith (1898 – 1920) and their first cousin Private Roland Walker (1894 – 1915). Before the war James helped on the family farm, Roydlands, and with the running of a carting / cab business.

James did apply for exemption because of these jobs but as the Brighouse Echo reported on 28th July 1916 his case was dismissed. Shortly afterwards he joined the Grenadier Guards. In February 1917 he went to France. He was killed in action on 1st August 1917 and buried at the Artillery Wood Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Private James Smallwood has a CWGC headstone and is also remembered on his family's memorial in Lightcliffe churchyard.