James Stonehouse was born in D'Arcy SK, the son of Spencer and May Stonehouse of Gravenhurst, ON, the sixth of seven children. James lived in D’Arcy for eight years before the family moved to Gravenhurst, Ontario to continue farming and where James completed public school (Grade VIII). Before joining the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps in February 1941, he worked as a truck driver for Bryer's Dairy in Gravenhurst and enlisted as a driver/rations storeman at Camp Borden, ON. He qualified as a Driver Class III in July.
James arrived in the UK on 10 March 1942 and was transferred to the Armoured Corps, trained and held as a reinforcement. During his time in both Canada and England, James tended to spend a lot of time AWL (Absent Without Leave) for which he paid in fines, served confinement to barracks, and some detention. He married Nancy Foster of Shotley Bridge, Durham, England, on 9 December 1943. He transferred back to the RCASC in May 1944.
James was sent to Italy and arrived on 16 May 1944 and eight days later, was transferred to the Royal Canadian Engineers and posted to the 10th Field Squadron during the closing days of the Liri Valley Campaign after which he moved with the squadron through Tuscany. By August 1944, the squadron found itself on its way to the Gothic Line on Italy’s east coast. Most tasks along the way involved route construction and maintenance with a heavy emphasis on mine clearing and crater repair. The work was dangerous with many men wounded or killed, but James managed not to get hurt.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck while they were preparing for the assault on Coriano Ridge on the morning of 11 September. Harry with other members of the Squadron were having breakfast in shifts near a kitchen truck. The 10th Field Company was resting in the area of San Giovanni near Coriano Ridge when a stray shell hit their field kitchen on the morning of 11 September. There were 28 casualties – six killed, three seriously wounded and later dying of wounds, and 11 seriously injured. James suffered a serious shrapnel wound to his right groin. He was rushed to the 24th Canadian Field Ambulance and died later that day. Sapper James Stonehouse, the father of six-month-old Anna, is buried in the Gradara War Cemetery.
