James Annand was the son of Robert Annand, Managing Director of Northern Press & Engineering, and was one of five Annand brothers who were also at the High School -- brothers Wallace Moir and Allan Muir also served in the war.

On leaving school, James followed his father into the printing business and learnt the trade. He became a stereotyper, making the printing plates.

Ten years later he was travelling the country as a printers engineer and commercial traveller and, according to his attestation paper, he served 4 years with the London Scottish regiment.

In 1911 he sailed to Quebec as a commercial traveller, and met and married Katherine Symington, after which he joined and served for 2½ years with the Canadian reserve forces in the 15th Battalion, 48th Highlanders as Sergeant.

Shortly after the outbreak of war, James formally signed up to serve with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force and, despite being injured at Ypres, survived the war and went on to work as an actor, and also in the radio broadcasting industry in Canada, managing local radio stations.

James became a good friend of the leading author, Sir Hugh Walpole, whose novel, "The Secret City", published in 1919, was dedicated to "Major James Annand 15th Battalion, 48th Highlanders, CEF in return for his gift of friendship".

James travelled many times between the UK and Canada, and recrods show him variously describing himself as as "film producer", "radio artist", "advertising expert" and "commercial traveller".

He died in Toronto in 1967.