James was the son of James Edwards, who had served with the Royal Scots from Feb 1916 for three years.
On 20 May 1944, while serving with the SAS, he married Margaret Binnie at Cambridge Street Church in Glasgow. They had two daughters.
After the war, he went back to the grocery trade, managing grocer’s shops in Blockridge. In 1950 he moved to Greenock and took a job in motor sales. Four years later he headed to Helensburgh as a garage sales manager. He became convenor for the Helensburgh Earl Haig Fund (now called PoppyScotland). He was a keen fisherman and became treasurer of the local club, as well as an elder of his church.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Scots Scout Section | Scout Section Member | Unknown | Jan 1944 |
| Operations Archway & Howard | SAS combatant | 16 Mar 1945 | 08 May 1945 |
| Operations Archway & Howard | SAS combatant | 16 Mar 1945 | 08 May 1945 |
| Operation Haggard | SAS combatant | 1944 | 1944 |
After enlisting with the Royal Scots, he was ordered to report to the Music Hall at 54 George Street, Edinburgh on 15 Mar 1940 at 10.30am for his medical examination. Passed Grade 1, he was ordered to the Royal Scots Infantry Training Centre at Glencorse, Penicuik, Midlothian on 18 Apr for his basic training.
Following this he volunteered for Auxiliary Units, probably from the Regimental Depot. He was Lance Corporal by the time he was issued a copy of the Military Training Pamphlet on Tank Hunting. He was eventually promoted Sergeant in change of the Scout Section by 1943.
Along with many others from the Scout Sections, he was recruited to the SAS at the start of 1944. He joined B Squadron, 1 SAS in 1944/5.
The SAS was disbanded at the end of 1945 and he transferred back to the Royal Scots on 6 Nov to complete his Army service. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 1 Aug 1946
18 Hopetoun Lane, Bathgate, West Lothian (1946)
David Blair
WW2 Medal Card
S Ruthven
West Lothian Courier 26 May 1944
Marks and Minerva Jun 1997