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James Llewellyn Frise was born on Scugog Island in 1891, but from the outset family and friends of this young lad simply called him “Jimmy”. Jimmy’s family moved several times while he was a lad, so he grew up in Myrtle and Seagrave, and at- tended school in Port Perry. It was here, as a student that he discovered he had a gift for art and drawing so when he completed school, he moved to Toronto where he was eventually hired on at the Toronto Daily Star as an artist. On May 17, 1916, at the age of 26, Jimmy joined the 69th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. In September he was shipped overseas and three months later found himself serving at the front with the 12th Battery. Field artillery at the time was predominantly horse- drawn, and Jimmy’s experience growing up on a farm made him invaluable using horse teams — first to move artillery guns to their emplacements, and then as pack animals carrying ammunition. About one year after enlisting Jimmy was wounded at Vimy Ridge. After delivering a load of shells to the front, he was setting off on the return trip to the am- munition dump when an enemy shell exploded nearby. Ina letter written by Jimmy to the Toronto Star, while recovering from a severe injury to his left hand and the loss of his third finger, he explained in graphic detail how he received his injury. “Right under my horse the three of us went down ina heap like a steeplechase spill at the Woodbine (racetrack). A ration car came by at the gallop. It struck a shell and upset. Bully beef tins and biscuits were strewn all over, with the sergeant in charge underneath. Ihadn’t seen so much to eat for days, and there I was without an appetite. Y’S WAR There are thousands of stories from World War | — stories of triumph, defeat, tragedy and heroism. Hundreds of young men from Port Perry and surrounding villages enlisted and went to the fronts in Europe, many never to return. But some did make it back again, against all odds, and the following story is about one Scugog Island boy who went to war was wounded, recov- ered in England and then returned to Canada to continue his career as a famous cartoonist with the Toronto Star. XX Jimmy Frise about 1940 We were packing up ammunition, and I was walk- ing between my horses, which probably accounts for my being here instead of ‘over there’ this beautiful May day. We were going along at hundred-yard inter- vals when the shells began to whine past my whis- kers. The interval between my leader and myself was considerably reduced during the next few seconds. After the shell burst I crawled out from the hoofs and flattened against the bank and listened to the dirt and stones pattering on my tin bonnet. The Fritz’s still kept whistling, making nasty holes in the road. My hand was paining me a good deal, also bleeding Please turn to page 45 = Jimmy Frise sketch depicting war in the muddy trenches. FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2014 37