James Fleming Spiers Arbuckle was the son of Robert and Janet Arbuckle, of Kirkliston, West Lothian; husband of Alice (Steel) Arbuckle, of Polmont, Stirlingshire. Married 1940. He enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and volunteered for airborne forces.

Trooper Arbuckle successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway and was posted to 1st Special Air Service Regiment, Army Air Corps.

Tpr Arbuckle was killed in action on 18 June 1944, aged 25, and is commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial to the missing.