Source: Per letter he was mentioned in relating the placing of a cross on Sergeant Spooner’s grave in the Galt Daily Reporter on December 8, 1915.
He joined with his father, Private James Patient, reg. no. 54040.
The Patient family live at 12 Close Avenue, Galt. The family was comprised of James and Charlotted Patient and their 11 children. The son, James George enlisted with the 18th Battalion at Galt on 23 November 1914, and this was followed by his father on 2 November. They served together with the 18th Battalion until the father was released from service on 2 March 1916 while the Battalion was serving near Ypres, Belgium.
It appears the father was discharged due to being overage as his discharge shows him at 42 years and 6 months of age. He was 40 at the time of enlistment which was the far end of the age classification of the Canadian Expeditionary Force at the time.
His son returned with the 18th Battalion and was discharged on May 24, 1919 when the Battalion was disbanded at London, Ontario. He served the war with the 18th the entire time and had the luck over never being wounded. It was rare to have an original member of the 18th serve the entirety of the war.
Both men are recorded to be living at 12 Close Avenue in 1921 but, sadly, the son passed away on 4 June, 1959 at Sunnybrook Hospital and is buried at Pine Hills Cemetery, Scarborough. He predeceased his father by 4-years as James passed away at the South Waterloo Memorial Hospital on 25 April 1963. He is buried at Trinity Anglican Cemetery.
The Galt Daily reporter printed a letter on 8 December 1915 relating one of these men helping with the burial of Private Joseph Spooner, reg. no. 53878, also of Galt.
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 