James Stoddart

James Stoddart, 835505 Army

July 19th, 1898 - April 9th, 1917

· Quarrier Boy (Scottish Home Child)

· Farm labourer for Samuel Doupe and Leslie Keller

· Death at Vimy Ridge

One of the farm hands who worked for James Leslie Keller just before WW1 was James Stoddart. James was born July 19th, 1898, to parents James Stoddart and Agnes Crawford Beith who were married June 17^th 1890. The growing family can be found in the 1901 census records of Glasgow, Scotland. Unfortunately, tragedy befell the family and James’ mother passed away in 1903. His father, who was a spirit salesman, also passed away shortly before and surviving children were placed in an orphanage. It appears the youngest child, Christina, died in early infancy. I have not been able to find a death certificate for her or the father.

Marriage of James Stoddart’s Parents

1901 Census Record of the Stoddart Family in Glasgow, Scotland

Death Record for Agnes Stoddart

Young James Stoddart became one of the many Quarrier's Boys sent over as an orphan from Glasgow, Scotland.

On April 4th, 1908, at the age of 9, he departed Glasgow, Scotland, on the ship, SS Grampian, and arrived in the port of Halifax on April 14, 1908. As a Quarrier's Boy, he would have been sent to the Fairnowe Home in Brockville. From there he went to Croydon, Ontario where he stayed on the Samuel Doupe farm. He later worked as a farm labourer on James Leslie Keller's farm also near Croydon.

He later worked on the James Leslie Keller’s farm and became a good friend of my grandfather, John Herbert Keller.

On January 29th, 1916 he joined the 146th Overseas Battalion and then transferred to the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles. He sailed from Halifax on the SS Southland on September 25th, 1916. It was his one opportunity to see his sisters again. He did visit with Agnes whie he was in England. He was killed in action April 9th, 1917 at Vimy Ridge. His body was not recovered and is one of the thousands of young soldiers who might be the "Unknown Soldier" now entombed at the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa.

At the age of 17, he was 5 foot 4 inches, fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He is on Page 333 of the First World War Book of Remembrance located on Parliament Hill.

James Stoddart's Attestation Papers

Postcards and pictures were left with the Keller family in Croydon They had been sent to Jimmie Stoddart or had been sent by him to my great uncle's farm in Canada. Jimmie was known to have three sisters: Agnes, Isabella, and Christina. His sisters stayed in the UK and worked as domestics but kept in touch with their brother. It is believed the youngest sister passed away in infancy. Isabella married in 1917 and she was sent James Stoddart’s war medals in 1921.

Marriage of Isabella Stoddart

Should anybody recognize these individual as a relative, please contact the Napanee Archives as the following pictures will be placed with them. James’ medals and decorations were sent to his sister, Mrs. D. Wilson, (Isabella), Watsonfoot Cottage, Morningside, Newmains, Lanarkshire, Scotland on the July 19th, 1921.

Here are the pictures:

James Stoddart & his sister. James Stoddart's parents.