James Fettes was born on 30 September 1884, the son of William and Margaret Fettes of 10, Wisbeach Street, Rozelle, Sydney, New South Wales. On leaving school he trained as a fitter and turner. He joined the Australian Naval Force on 8 September 1910, signing on for a five year engagement as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, and was drafted to HMS PYRAMUS. On joining he was described as being 5 feet 8 1/2 inches tall with black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion. He also had a heart tattooed on his left arm.

On 1 October 1910, James Fettes was drafted to the cruiser HMS CHALLENGER on the Australia Station. On 1 November 1912 he was drafted to HMS VICTORY (the Royal Naval Barracks at Portsmouth), and on 17 December 1912 enlisted in the RAN as an Engine Room Artificer 4th Class signing on for a five year engagement.

On 18 December 1912 he was drafted to HMS DOLPHIN (the Submarine Base) at Gosport. James Fettes was rated Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class on 7 September 1913. He was drafted to HMAS PENGUIN ‘for Submarine AE1’ on 28 February 1914. He was serving in Submarine AE1 when it was lost off New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago on 14th September 1914.

He was twenty nine years old at the time of his death. His Next of Kin was listed as his mother. James Fettes is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial on Panel 4.