1880 Aug 19. Born Stranraer. Wigtown
1881 census is aged 7 monhs son of John and Grace Bruce living at 15 Agnew Crescent, Stranraer. His father is "Chief Bt of Coast Guard"
1891 census listed in census as the 10 year old son of son of John and Grace Bruce and living at 78 North Esk Rd, Montrose, Angus. His father is a Naval Pensioner.
1901 census. He is listed as an Ordinary Seaman at Sheerness.
1920 Mar 11. 193410 (Ch) Leading Seaman James Alexander Bruce HMS ‘Poppy’, a fleet sweeping sloop, on books of HMS Colleen, Queenstown, Ireland, drowned. On Irish GRO as died Cork . Son of John and Grace Bruce (nee Geddes), of Stranraer, Wigton.
Buried Sleepyhillock Cemetery. Sleepyhillock Montrose. Forfarshire. Scotland. Relatives notified: Sister. Grace. A. 31, Nursery Rd, Montrose. Scotland.