BX April 1, 1948

First Canadian Consulate Opens in United States

DETROIT – (CP) – the first Canadian consulate in the United States was opened in Detroit today.

James Joseph Hurley heads the office as the first Canadian consul in this country.  He is assisted by George Power, Vice-consul.

Canada maintains an embassy in Washington, consulates-general in New York and Chicago and a vice-consulate in Portland,, ME.  Before today British consulates throughout the U.S. handled Canadian consular affairs.

Mr. Hurley, who entered the Canadian Department of External Affairs in April, 1947 is 49 years old.

BX December 30, 1963

Soldier and Diplomat, Col. James J. Hurley Dies in Hospital at 65

Colonel James J. Hurley, who gave distinguished service to Canada and the Commonwealth in peace and war, died in the Brantford General Hospital Sunday at the age of 65.

He rose from cadet to commander, and in the diplomatic service for administrator to ambassador.

For his services Col. Hurley received many honors, among them elevation to an officer of the Order of the British Empire, and the Netherlands Order of Orange-Nassau.

His first diplomatic service was as administrator at Caen after it was captured in the Second World War by the Allies, his last as ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, from which he retired this year.

Born in Brantford Aug. 13, 1898, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James J. Hurley, James Hurley was educated in the public schools and the Brantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School.  He was in the BCI cadets when the First World War broke out.  In 1916 he was in the Canadian Army and served overseas in the ranks.

Returning to Canada, he entered his father’s business – the Hurley Printing Company – remaining in it and rising to president.

His love for the military life, however, kept him active in the Dufferin Rifles and the Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles, its successor.  He rose from junior officer to its commander with the rank of lieutenant-colonel and qualified for colonel.

When the “Duffs,” as they were popularly known, were called to active service in 1939, Col. Hurley, the OC, intensified training.

However, when mobilization for overseas service did not come, he relinquished his command and reverted to the rank of major to go overseas as second in command of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Regiment.

His military ability soon won recognition, and in England he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and to command No. 4 Army Tactical Training School in Britain.

He was recalled to command the RHLI following the Dieppe Raid and served in that post until recalled to Canada for further service here.  At the same time he was promoted to colonel.

In May, 1943 he became chief instructor of staff course at the Royal Military College, Kingston, and commandant of the Canadian Army Staff College.

May 31, 1944 he left for overseas again, and prior to moving on with the Canadian Army on the Western Front, was civil administrator at Caen, France.

Later he saw service with the Canadian military mission in Berlin.

Colonel Hurley remained in the diplomatic service for 16 years, and spent more than 14 of those years overseas.

His first truly diplomatic post was as consul at Detroit in March 1948.  It was the first time Canada had had a consul there and Co. Hurley remained until 1951.  He then returned to Ottawa for duty in the external affairs department.

In March, 1953 he was appointed as high commissioner to Ceylon, serving with distinction until 1957 when he was appointed high commissioner to South Africa, then in the Commonwealth.

After South Africa withdrew from the Commonwealth and became a republic, he continued there and on June 1, 1961 was appointed Canada’s first ambassador to that country.

Col. Hurley was also an aviation enthusiast from his youth.  In partnership with the late C. Eardley Wilmot he owned and flew one of the first planes to operate from the old Brant-Norfolk Aero Club port on the St. George Road.  He was one of those who organized that club, and served as its president.

He was an honorary member of the Brantford Rotary Club and a member of Ozias Lodge, AF and AM.

He was an ardent golfer and a member of the Brantford Golf and Country Club and the Brantford Club.

Col. Hurley was member of the Officers’ Mess of the 56th Field Regiment here, and an honorary member of the Sergeants’ Mess.

Surviving besides his wife, the former Vera Styles of 21 Maple Avenue, are one brother, W. Dudley Hurley, of this city, and one sister, Mrs. E. Lorne (Hilary) Millar of Toronto.

Col. Hurley is at the Beckett Funeral Home until Tuesday, when service will be conducted in Central Presbyterian Church at 3:30 p.m. Interment will be in Farringdon cemetery. 

Senator W. Ross Macdonald a member of the federal cabinet and a close friend of Col. Hurley said on learning of his death:

“The sad news of the passing of Col. Hurley came as a great shock to me, and to his many friends in Ottawa, where he was highly regarded as a soldier and a diplomat.  It is hard to believe that his distinguished career has so suddenly come to an end.

“Col. Hurly had a pleasing personality and excelled in every activity he took an interest in.

“He had a host of friends who today are living in capital cities of the world, and who will deeply mourn his passing.”

Mayor Beckett said today:

“Brantford and Brant County have lost an outstanding citizen in Col. Hurley, who served in two world wars and in the diplomatic service.

“He was an inspiring officer who always had the respect of his men,” Mayor Becket said.  “It was Col. Hurley who was instrumental in organizing the Brant-Norfolk Aero Club following the First World War.”

BX January 4, 1964

“He Will Be Long Remembered”

The service for Col. James J. Hurley was held Tuesday at Central Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. G. Deane Johnston officiating.

“The death of Col. Hurley removes from public life one of its outstanding servants and from Canada, one of its most distinguished citizens,” said Dr. Johnston.

“He did what he wanted with his life and he did it well,” he said.  “He loved the army, he loved soldiering and he was a good soldier.”

Dr. Johnston said Col. Hurley had a gift for administration and organization and he found himself at home in the diplomatic service.

“He had many friends for he was easy to love.  He liked people of all kinds and he loved to be with them.  He had a curious gift in that he made people feel he was really interested in them, and he was,” said Dr. Johnston.

As a representative of his country he made a deep impression wherever he was.  He will be long remembered.”

The Beckett Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Interment was at Farrington Burial Ground.

Active pallbearers were: Lt.-Col. C.E. Brown, Maj. R.J. McMillan, Capt. Maurice Scott, Capt. Charles Fletcher, Capt. David Bennett, and Lieut. Howard Brown.

Honorary pallbearers were: L.E. Baldwin, Kitchener; E.M. Cockshutt, J.W. Conklin, Brantford; Col. Robert Cory, Toronto; E.B. Culham, St. George; R.R. Fletcher, R.B. Forbes, Col. Malim Harding, Arnold G. Hitchon, Brantford.

R.L. Houlding, R.T.L. Innes, P.E. James, D.O. Johnson, Senator W. Ross Macdonald, H.J. G. McLean, W.M. Messecar, Daniel Robertson,

Col. Ian Sinclair, Toronto; J.A.D. Slemin, W.A. Turnbull, Col. H.G. Watson, D.D. Williamson, Brantford, Brig. Dennis Whittaker, Toronto.