James Alexander Scotland was born in Perthshire, Scotland c.1891.  When he enlisted on 17 January 1916 he gave his age as 25.  He was working as a carpenter and living at 34 Albert Street, East Melbourne.  However his parents,, John and Anna Maria, were still living in Scotland.  It is likely that James is the Mr J Scotland, aged 22, listed as arriving in Melboourne in June 1913 aboard the Makarini.  The liner was described on this occasion as bearing 'an exceptionally large contingent of immigrants'.  James was a small man, just under 5ft 5ins, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair.  He was appointed to 2nd Field Company Engineers, 16th Reinforcements, Seymour, as a sapper.

He embarked on 1 April 1916 aboard, strangely, the Makarini with other members of the unit, disembarking at Tel-el-Kebir on 3 May where he joined miscellaneous reinforcements.  He then embarked from Alexandria bound for Marseilles on 7 June, arriving a week later. 

He was transferred to 14th Field Company Enginners on 16 August 1916 from Base Details. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 18 November 1916, and promoted to 2nd Corporal on 15 September 1917.  From 22 September to 7 October he was on furlough in U.K.  He was promoted to corporal on 20 October 1917.  Only a week later he was killed in action on 27 October 1917.  He was buried at the Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Belgium.