James A. 'Jimmy-Jim' MacAuley was born in Grand Tracadie, Prince Edward Island. He received his early education in Grand Tracadie, but he did not stay there for long. He enlisted with the Canadian Army two years into World War I, shortly after his 16th birthday. James was actually turned down on his first attempt at enlisting. He claimed it was because he wore shorts, and the recruiters insisted that nobody old enough for war would wear shorts. So he returned shortly after with new clothes and coveralls and enlisted with the 105th Battalion.
James received his early training in the Beach Grove area, and then was sent off to Aldershot, England to complete his training. While in England James was transferred from the 105th Battalion to the 25th Battalion of the Nova Scotia Rifles. In the summer of 1917 James was sent to the front lines in France and spent the rest of the war in the trenches.
Upon his return from the war James worked as a fisherman in the Brackley area, following in his father's footsteps. However, he did not remain there for long, opting to work in the woods of New Brunswick for a number of years. He later returned to Prince Edward Island to work as the Night Watchman of the Stanhope Golf Course.
James lived the last 30 years of his life in Stanhope. He also lived his life independently for 97 years until he entered the Beach Grove Home in 1998. He died there on April 19th, 1999 at the age of 98. James was the father of 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren.
James was recognized as the last remaining World War I veteran on Prince Edward Island. He had received numerous medals in honour of his service including the French Legion of Honour, the Queen's Certificate of Appreciation, and the John McCrae Medallion. After his death he was honoured by France, Great Britain, and Canada.