World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. A native of Scotland, he received the award posthumously (presented to his widow) by British King George V on April 3, 1919 at Buckingham Palace in London, England for his actions as a corporal in the 416th (Edinburgh) Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers of the British Army on October 14, 1918 at the Canal de la Sensee near Aubencheul-au-Bac, France during the Hundred Days Offensive near the end of World War I. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, he worked as an upholsterer prior to enlisting in the 416th Field Company after the outbreak of World War I in July 1914. He initially was sent to Egypt but in April 1916 he was assigned to the Western Front in France. October 14, 1918 found him near Aubencheul-au Bac where he tried to maintain a floating cork bridge that crossed the Canal de la Sensee to allow British soldiers to cross and he was killed in action at the age of 23. In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the British War Medal, the Victory Medal (1914-19), and the Territorial Force War Medal. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "No. 422047 Cpl. James McPhie, late 416th (Edinburgh) Fld.-Coy., R.E., T.F. (Edinburgh). For most conspicuous bravery on the 14th October, 1918, when with a party of sappers maintaining a cork float bridge across the Canal de la Sensee near Aubencheul au Bac. The further end of the bridge was under close machine-gun fire and within reach of hand grenades. When Infantry, just before dawn, were crossing it, closing up resulted and the bridge began to sink and break. Accompanied by a sapper, he jumped into the water and endeavoured to hold the cork and timbers together, but this they failed to do. Cpl. McPhie then swam back, and, having reported the broken bridge, immediately started to collect material for repair. It was now daylight. Fully aware that the bridge was under close fire and that the far bank was almost entirely in the hands of the enemy, with, the inspiring words "It is death or glory work which must be done for the sake of our patrol on the other side," he led the way, axe in hand, on to the bridge and was at once severely wounded, falling partly into the water, and died after receiving several further wounds. It was due to the magnificent example set by Cpl. McPhie that touch was maintained with the patrol on the enemy bank at a most critical period." His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the British Imperial War Museum in London, England. A plaque in his memory resides on a bench in the Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh.