English, James Jim

James Wesley English (Jim) was born in Fort Vermillion, AB to Alvin and Mary English.  He married Ruby Blanche Ready. He died in Princeton.  At the time of his death, he was living in Coalmont, BC.

Jim led an extraordinary life, starting when he left home at around age 11.  At age 15, at the start of the Second World War, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces.  He later transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada infantry regiment in order to serve with his brother.  He was deployed as a sniper to Italy and France, and was twice wounded in combat.  He also distinguished himself as a member of the Devil’s Brigade.

Following the war, he worked for a dairy delivering milk with a horse and wagon in Vancouver.  Later Jim worked as an ironworker for Dominion Bridge Company and was a member of the Ironworkers Union Local 97.  He worked on many major construction projects around BC, including the Coquihalla Pass, the Port Mann Bridge, and the Rosedale-Agassiz Bridge, to name a few.  On June 17, 1958, Jim was the superintendent on the new bridge at Second Narrows when it collapsed into the Burrard Inlet, nearly killing him along with 19 of his fellow workers.  After he recovered from his injuries, Jim returned to work on the rebuilding of the bridge.

In 1972, Jim and Ruby moved to their Coalmont ranch permanently.

He was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 56 in Princeton, BC.

He was survived by his son Patrick (Chilliwack) and daughter Lynda (Coalmont).

Obituary Jim English – Princeton Similkameen Spotlight