James Jack was born on 10 September 1893 in Dundee, Scotland. The second of six children to James Jack and Margaret Dallas, he worked for the engineering firm McGregor and Balfour in his hometown prior to the family’s relocation to Western Australia, where they settled in North Perth. James adapted to his new surrounds by finding work as a wood turner.
In 1913 he joined the YMCA football club, which fielded two Junior League teams and where he played alongside soon-to-be ‘diggers’ Percy Wrighton, Herbert Bell, Harry Bell, Thomas Woolnough and Arthur Sage across two seasons.
In February 1916, Finlay enlisted as a Private with the 28th Battalion, training at Blackboy Hill and again in England before proceeding to France in December. Found guilty of being absent without leave across Christmas and Boxing Days, he forfeited seven days pay before deployment to the battlefield.
On 2 March 1917, the 28th Battalion took the Malt Trench, a heavily fortified German defensive position near the French village of Warlencourt. Finlay was wounded in the action, suffering a compound fracture of the left ankle. Treated by a field ambulance and then admitted to 1st South Midland Casualty Clearing Station, he passed away later that day.