James was born in 1879 to Patrick Ward (Bricklayer) and Helen Gillick, living in Potterrow, Edinburgh. He had two brothers: Peter and Manus; and a sister, Agnes. Their mother died in 1884, aged 34 years and their father remarried four years later in 1888 to Bridget Garrity. The 1911 Census records James living in lodgings at 2a Preston Street, Rosewell, Midlothian, working as a labourer, above ground, at Whitehill Colliery, located at the top end of the village.

Like his older brother Manus and many other men who worked in the Colliery, James enlisted in late 1914, aged 35. Sadly, the brothers would share the same fate. (Private Manus Ward,10th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) died 25th September 1915) The 13th Battalion Royal Scots embarked on SS Invicta from Folkestone bound for Boulogne on the 9th July 1915, arriving around 11pm. James’ medal index card confirms this as the date that he entered the French Theatre of war. From the quayside, the battalion made its way to a rest camp at Ostrohove arriving around 12.45am.

By the end of July, the battalion was at Maroc, less than a mile to the rear of the front line trenches. Working parties were organised for digging out communication trenches, coming under shell fire. In early August, they were in the trenches at Le Philosophe, which is where the battalion suffered its first casualties.

From the 25th to 27th September 1915, the battalion was in action at Hill 70 during the Battle of Loos, suffering significant losses: 41 killed, 232 wounded and 47 missing, presumed to have died. Unlike his brother, James survived his first major battle.

The remainder of 1915 and up to May 1916, the battalion was involved in reserve and trench duties and by the beginning of May 1916, it was in the trenches at Sailly-Labourse, with ‘C’. ‘D’ and ‘A’ Companies in the firing and support lines and ‘B’ Company in reserve. During the period 3rd to the 6th May, the enemy artillery was very active.

On the morning of the 6th June the enemy targeted the firing-line, support-line and main communication trenches occupied by the battalion, causing significant damage, especially to the support line held by ‘A’ Company. This was when James met his death, aged 37 years.

Private James Ward is buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He is also commemorated on the War Memorial Plaque, Roswell Memorial Hall, Rosewell, Midlothian.