James Petrie Street Watling was born October 7, 1882, in Chatham, New Brunswick. He was the 8th of 12 children born to Alexander Watling and his wife Catherine Kelly. James married Mary Ann (Mame) McGivern on Sept 18, 1906. Of 5 children born to them, only 2 survived to adulthood. On April 22, 1915, Watling enlisted in Saint John, N.B., with the 26th Battalion. He was working as a tinsmith at the time of his enlistment. Watling served in England and France before being medically discharged on June 10, 1917. Watling was one of five siblings who all served in the war. After the war, James Watling settled in Amherst, Nova Scotia, where he worked for the post office. He died on May 3, 1947 at the age of 65.

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