Corporal James "Jim" Hendry was born in Falkirk, Scotland, the son of John and Janet Hendry. The family immigrated to Canada and settled in Geraldton, Ontario where Jim worked as a gold miner at the Macleod-Cockshutt Mine. He had served in the Algonquin Rifles before enlisting in Toronto on 28 June 1940. Based on his skills, he was assigned to No. 1 Tunnelling Company, Royal Canadian Engineers and sent to Camp Borden, Ontario for training. By August 1940, Sapper Hendry was on his way to the UK.
In 1941, Jim's company was called upon to build the two-mile-long Loch Laggan Tunnel due to the lack of enough civilian contractors to do the work in time. This was one of the many tunnels needed to feed hydroelectric plants in Scotland in an effort to increase aluminium production at the British Aluminium Company’s plant at Fort William, Scotland, 120 miles north-west of Glasgow. The sappers started their work at one end of the tunnel while the civilian contractors continued work at their end. The work started in April, with three 57-hour shifts working 24/7 in the tunnel and one shift available for work above ground.
On 13 June, disaster struck. At about 1600 hours, Corporal James Hendry came out of the tunnel and found the powder house on fire. Shouting an alarm he ran to warn the compressor man and the steel-sharpener in the workshop, both unaware of the blaze. Picking up a pail of water he headed for the powder house to try to put out the fire. Although he could easily have gotten clear, others nearby were also in danger, and if the magazine blew up, the resulting damage would put a stop to the job for some time. He was an experienced miner and fully aware of the chances he was taking. His gallant attempt failed. There was a devastating explosion in which Jim was killed. The hoist house, workshop and powder house all disappeared. The steel-sharpening shop was flattened and caught fire. Sapper John Stewart, 28, was killed by a falling stone as he emerged from the tunnel. Seven others were injured. Jim's timely warning enabled many others to take cover and prevented a much worse disaster.
Corporal Hendry's display of courage was recognized two years after his death when he was posthumously awarded the George Cross, the country's highest award for gallantry in non-military action. As to the significance of the award, the following paragraph extracted from a letter on Cpl Hendry's file dated 22 May 1942, adds perspective:
"6. The George Cross may be awarded posthumously, whilst the George Medal is not a posthumous award. Both these decorations, as far as military personnel are concerned, are awarded only where military decorations are not normally granted, e.g. not on duty. The Awards Committee has stringently tightened up on the awards of the George Cross, and this medal is now awarded only for such acts of bravery as would warrant the Victoria Cross if in the face of the enemy."
Canada remembers Corporal Jim Hendry through the naming of the Corporal James Hendry GC Building in Militia Training Centre Meaford at Camp Meaford, Ontario. In Scotland, a memorial cairn was officially unveiled in Corporal Hendry's honour near the tunnel at the head of Loch Laggan, near Newtonmore, where he died. (See: Scottish Group Honours ... Cpl James Hendry )
Jim's brother Robert and sister Jean also served overseas in the Second World War and returned safely to Canada. Robert also served in No. 1 Tunnelling Company, RCE.
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Corporal Hendry, on 13 June 1941, was in charge of a tunneling shift engaged on important duties in Scotland. A fire broke out in the powder magazine whichseriously menaced the lives and equipment of the detachment. Hendry, an experienced miner, with full knowledge of explosives, immediately warned the civilian helpers in the vicinity to take cover and, instead of taking cover himself, produced water and went to the powder magazine in an endeavour to put out the fire. Before he reached the magazine it blew up, killing Corporal Hendry and one other and seriously injuring two other members of the detachment. It is considered that Corporal Hendry's action in attempting to put out the fire, after warning others of the danger, showed courage and bravery of a high order. The act was carried out in the performance of military duty and in complete disregard of his own safety.
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