James Laing Kennedy was the son of ship's plater William Kennedy, and his wife Annie.

He joined Westoe Secondary School in 1906, and at the age of 16 became a pupil-teacher, leaving in 1911 to go to Leeds Teacher Training College.

James joined the Royal Fusiliers as a Private, and in 1916 was awarded the Military Medal.

He later joined the Royal Engineers as a Lance Corporal, serving in France and Flanders with the 1st Field Survey Company.

He was killed in action on 28-Oct-1918 and is buried in the Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension, about 20km north-east of Saint Quentin, near the Belgian border.