James Jardine was a labourer in Tannymorel, a mining community just over 20km east of Warwick. He was a member of Tannymorel’s soccer team which played regular matches against Warwick and Yangan in the years immediately before the war. Jardine also played in the combined district team against Toowoomba.
He enlisted in early January 1916 and reached France in July as part of the 4th Pioneer Battalion. Jardine was wounded two months later which led to months recuperating in England. He would not return to France until February 1918, where he spent time at Musketry School.
Jardine was on leave when the war ended and returned to Australia in mid-1919. He returned to Tannymorel after the war, and was seen playing soccer again in 1926 in a game against Acland.