James "Jim" Montgomery Gilmour was born on 4 January 1881 in Boveedy, Kilrea, County Derry, Ireland. His parents were Rev James and Agnes Gilmour.

He was a New Zealand rugby league footballer of the 1910s, playing at representative level for New Zealand and Wellington as a Centre.

Jim moved to Australia in 1911, playing for North Sydney alongside until heading north to play for Queensland. Gilmour played all three matches against the touring New South Wales.

Jim served as a private with the New Zealand Expeditionary force in World War I.  He sailed from New Zealand with the 43rd reinforcements on 17 August 1918 and died of pneumonia at Tidworth Hospital, Wiltshire, England on 18 December 1918. He was buried at Tidworth Military Cemetery.

James Gilmour