James was born on 8th March 1888 at 6 Ireland Row, Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire. He was the youngest of 5 children of James, a coal miner and Margaret (m/s Paul). They were married in Glasgow in 1868.

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On the 1891 census, the family were living at Stone Row, Over town, Cambusnethan. On the 1901 census, the family were living in Larkhall. On the 1911 census, James was living with his parents in Larkhall and working as a coal miner, as was his father. The other siblings were not in the same household.

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James served with the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders and was killed in what is now known as Iraq.

He is remembered in the Basra Memorial Cemetery and on the Inverkip War Memorial.

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The register of soldiers' effects shows a gratuity paid to wife Ellen. There is no record of a marriage taking place in Scotland between a James Kirk and Ellen, however there is a record of a marriage taking place in December 1911 in the Parish Church of Blackheath, Worcester. The occupation of the bridegroom is recorded as a carpenter and his father is James Kirk, a coal miner, so there is a high chance that this is the right James Kirk.

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His Inverkip connection is not known.