James was born 28 March 1909 to Thomas George and Margaret (Brown) Lahey, he appears to have had 5 siblings, Francis John Maxwell born 1897, Thomas George Gordon 1899, Margaret Alicia Pearl, 1901, Cyrus Lincoln 1904 and Lawrence Edward Nicklin born 1910. 

His enlistment states he was single and James named three people as his next of kin; his mother Margaret of Southport, Queensland, his uncle R Brown of Southport, and a brother T G Gordon Lahey.  His occupation a farmer of “Tabletop” Pine Creek, via Canungra, Queensland. His height was 5 feet 9 ½ inches, dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair.  He attended the Southport School and had been jackarooing  on a sheep station, as well as working in a shearing shed before owning his property. 

James Vernon Stothard Lahey was killed in Cairns Harbour on the 13 April 1943 in an aircraft accident when returning from operations against the enemy.

Also killed were Flight Lieutenant Arnold Hinchliffe – pilot/captain, Sergeant Lenard Carr Airman pilot, Flight Officer Leslie Lancedene Henstridge WAG, Corporal Harold McGillivray fitter, LAC Malcolm Frederick Merrett fitter. Three survived, Sergeant George Geffrey Suckling WOAG – seriously injured, Corporal Lawrence Edwin Webber – fitter 11A – slightly injured, Leading Aircraftman Murray Lochart Byham – Amourer – seriously injured.

Court of Enquiry found that the cause of the accident was due to the fact that the petrol was exhausted and with the engines cutting out at a low altitude, as they did during slight rain, the pilot was unable to make a successful forced landing.