B135616 Rifleman James Henry Welch was born on 29 Apr 1910 in Sundridge, Parry Sound, Ontario, the son of Charles Alexander (Alex) Welch and Alice Russell. He had two younger brothers and three sisters.

He married first Louis Bell Brace (d.1932)  on 28 August 1930 and had one daughter. In 1935the married Julia Elizabeth (Hope) Raaflaub and had two sons and two daughters.

Welch worked as an assayer for a mining company when he enlisted with the militia in Kirkland Lake on 10 July 1942 and with the active service army on 4 November 1942. He trained in Orillia and Camp Borden and arrived in the UK on 4 April 1943. He was transferred to The Queen’s Own Rifles on 11 June 1943 and continued training with them until D-Day.

Rifleman Welch landed on Juno Beach with D Company on D-Day, 6 June 1944. He was killed in action aged 34, on 11 June during the battle for the village of Le Mesnil Patry.

He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference III. H. 2.