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James Stonebridge was born in Hornsey, Middlesex, one of ten children of Lewis Stonebridge and his second wife, Mary. The family afterwards moved to Holloway and James found employment at George Kemp Ltd., the cake and biscuit manufacturers, prior to enlisting in the Middlesex Regiment.
After being mobilised for service with the 5th Battalion Middlesex Regiment in August 1914, he deserted, was captured and sentenced to 21 days detention. He rejoined his battalion and served on the Western Front from 27.12.1914; he received a gunshot wound in the chest, 14.5.1915 and was sent to recuperate in the UK.
After several months in hospital Stonebridge was sent to Fort Horsted Camp at Chatham in readiness to return to his unit in France. However on the 26.10.1915 he again absconded and was on the run for several months before being apprehended by a P.C. Francis Huskey of "Y" Division, Metropolitan Police.
A Sergeant of the 24th London Regiment was sent to escort him back to Chatham, however once again he eluded the Western Front for a little while longer, ´I beg to report that at 5.15pm on 10th January 1916, I was Sergeant in charge of an escort conducting prisoners from King´s Cross police station to the Central London Recruiting Depot, when the above named broke away and made his escape. I gave chase but was unable to stop him or find any trace of him.'
He was re-captured in January and sentenced to another District Court Martial, in which he was ordered to spend nine months in detention; he was released 27.7.1916, after a very brief return to his unit, he was transferred to the 8th Battalion East Surrey Regiment, 20.12.1916. He was wounded in action again, 3.5.1917, and this time returned directly to his unit 19.6.1917.
He was killed in action 18.1.1918, the Battalion War Diary for the latter date gives,
´at 4.40am a raid was carried out by a party from D Company at the enemy position at Turenne Crossing, later that day the enemy retaliated... a raid was carried out by a party of the enemy numbering about 200 against the advanced posts of the battalion on the left at 4.45pm... The enemy advanced in white smocks. Heavy hostile artillery fire was experienced from 4.45 to 5.10pm... The raiding party was driven back under heavy machine gun fire and LG fire, the occupied posts retaken. The battalion suffered 4 other ranks killed and 9 wounded.'
Stonebridge is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium.
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