Private James Thewlis was born in 1920 to Joseph and Isabella Watson of Percy Main, North Shields, Northumberland.Private Thewlis volunteered for the Parachute Regiment and successfully completed his parachute training at Ringway on 12 September 1942. He was posted to the 5th (Scottish) Battalion, Parachute Regiment and took part in the Italian Campaign.

He died on 13 May 1944, aged 24. He is now buried at Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.