James Campbell was born in Inverkip on 1st February 1887. He was the son of John and Jane Campbell (nee Tyre) of Tyre Place, Inverkip. He had a brother, John and a sister, Mary.

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On the 1891 Inverkip census, James was living with his parents and four siblings at the 'Registrar's House'. The precise location is unclear but it is listed next to 'Her Ladyship's House'! The family also had Jeanie McDonald, a servant, living with them. On the 1901 Inverkip census, James was living with his parents and three siblings. The actual address is unclear. His father's occupation is listed as inspector of the poor, registrar and joiner. The 1911 Inverkip census shows his occupation as a joiner. He was living at Tyre Place with his parents and two siblings.

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James enlisted for service and served in the 1st/5th Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Between 1893 and 1901, James' parents suffered the tragedy of losing four of their children: Gordon, killed at Wemyss Bay Station in 1893, aged 13; Thomas aged 4 in 1894 from meningitis; Janet aged 19 in 1901 who died on a train while travelling home from London and William, aged 1 in 1901, 12 days after Janet from meningitis.

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His father was the Session Clerk of Inverkip Parish Church for 25 years. An extract of the Kirk Session minutes from October 1915 shown below record a tribute his son. As the local joiner, he made the beautiful wooden surround for the church memorial plaque in the east wall of the church which was unveiled in 1920, the same day as the war memorial was unveiled.

James was killed on 12th July 1915 in the final battle for Achi Baba, Gallipoli. He is commemorated at the Helles Memorial and on the Inverkip War Memorial.

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