James Sherman Mann was born in Peterborough, Ontario, the third son of Sherman Aaron and Ada Mary Mann. In all, there were three boys and six girls in his family. His oldest brother, Percy Sherman Mann, was killed at Vimy Ridge during the First World War. James served in the Prince of Wales Rangers, a local militia unit from 1926 until 1935 and attained the rank of corporal. He enrolled in the Canadian Army Active Force on 17 August 1940. He was married with one child at the time. He declared his occupation as locksmith, although he was working as a hotel clerk when he enlisted. He also expressed a desire to remain in the army after the war.
James was assigned to the 3rd Field Park Company, who had been mobilized that very month in Peterborough. He immediately placed in the orderly room at the rank of Lance Corporal. The 3rd Field Park Company moved from Peterborough to Camp Debert in Nova Scotia before embarking for England in August 1941. From the time of his arrival in the UK, James was kept busy with a number of attachments to the 16th and 18th Field Companies, and finally to the 3rd Division Bridging Platoon in September 1943. James progressed through the ranks quickly. Based on previous experience and his civilian trade, he was appointed Lance-Sergeant in October 1940. He also qualified as a Clerk Group ‘B’, driver Class III, motorcyclist, and Pioneer Group ‘C’. In November 1942, he successfully completed the Bridging NCO course in England and was promoted to Sergeant.
James arrived in France on 17 June 1944. The 3rd Field Park Company and 3rd Bridging Platoon worked with Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Bridging Companies to provide the boats, rafts, and bridging stores needed to cross the dozens of obstacles from the beaches, across France and through Belgium and Holland.
On the night of 28 October 1944, James and some others hitched a ride back to his unit from a nearby town. The ambulance they were riding in was struck in the dark by an oncoming vehicle with a broken headlight. He suffered a mortal head injury and died before reaching hospital. The driver of the ambulance was absolved of any wrongdoing in the accident but was censured for carrying unauthorized passengers. No disciplinary action was taken.
James is buried in the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Brussels.
Return to Part 5: Tributes to the Fallen Sappers of the Scheldt
