KIA

James was born in 1893 in Sydney, NSW to George and Lavinia Thompson Davison and had three cousins, Alan, Norman and Robert, who are also remembered in the Avenue.
His aunt, Elizabeth Allan (nee Davison, formerly married to Robert Clark) had two sons, Archibald and William, who are also remembered in the Avenue.

James enlisted in the AIF, 5^th Reinforcements, 31^st Battalion on the 20^th of December 1915, at Sydney, NSW, aged 22. He joined his unit at Broadmeadows, VIC before embarking aboard the HMAT A68 Anchises in March 1916, disembarking in Egypt.

James was promoted to EDP Corporal in June 1916 before proceeding to France later that month. He joined his unit in France in late July, reverting to a Private - the 31^st had just been involved in the Battle of Fromelles and had suffered 572 casualties, over half of its strength. In August James spent two weeks in hospital with measles. In May 1917 he was detached for duty with the 8^th Field Company Engineers for two weeks and in July spent two weeks at the 3^rd Army Sniping School. He was granted leave in England in late August.

During the Battle of Polygon Wood in late September 1917 he was reported wounded and missing - later declared killed in action, 26^th September 1917.

James is remembered in the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and the Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board and the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial.