James Kirkcaldy was born in Scotland in 1866. He came to Canada in 1891 and made Brandon his home. Kirkcaldy was the Chief of Police in Brandon for 13 years. He was a member of the Manitoba Dragoons and later a Major in the 99^th Manitoba Rangers. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a Major with the 8^th Winnipeg Rifles. Kirkcaldy was wounded in France and returned to Canada to recover. During this time, he raised the 78^th Battalion of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and returned to France in 1916. James Kirkcaldy saw action in many battles of World War I such as The Somme, Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele and later at Canal du Nord, Valenciennes and Mons.

     Kirkcaldy returned to Brandon in 1919 and held positions with Brandon City Council and the Brandon Winter Fair and Brandon Livestock Association.

     Kirkcaldy died in 1957 and is buried in the Brandon Cemetery. He is commemorated by Kirkcaldy Drive and Kirkcaldy Heights School in Brandon.

    Brigadier General James Kirkcaldy’s decorations and medals are, from left to right: The Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, The Distinguished Service Order with 2 Bars, the 1914-1918 Star, the War Medal, the Inter-Allied Victory Medal and the French Croix de Guerre.