So sorry, just when I thought I had done all I can for the moment, I am back again.
Okay so from manawakian's suggestions, I now have these 'possibles' for items 2 & 3 from my original list
2 James Henry age 30 stone cutter and wife Lily age 21, both born England, arrive Quebec City 13 May 1912 aboard CORSICAN headed for Regina Saskatchewan
3 Lillie Hendry age 22 and William Hendry infant aboard PRETORIAN from Montreal to Glasgow arrived 3 Nov 1914. Only likelies found on incoming list between 1914 and 1918. Arrived UK 25 days before James, probably travelled separately because of submarine threat.
possible, even likely, but the name change from Elizabeth to Lily is the fly in the ointment.
I have been poking round in other records, trying to find 'something' that may verify the crossing in May 1912 on the Corsican and I have found an attempted border crossing (he was debarred) from Winnipeg, Man to the US dated 24 Nov 1914.
Its really difficult for these old eyes to read, so if anyone has access to these records, I would appreciate an opinion.
What I can make out is:
Left Hand Side of Form:
Line 6 Stamped: Debarred, Henry (stamped B.S.I. - I don't know what that means), James Arthur, age 34, male, married, Labourer, can read, can write, Nationality Canada, Race, English,
Then it starts to get cramped and difficult to tell which line the entry belongs to
Last permanent residence - City appears to be Regina,
Name of relative/friend in country from whence he came
Friend Mrs Kerr, 1807 Halifax St, Regina (I think!)
Destination state seems to be Minnesota? City I can't make out the name.
So far so good, age is a bit out, but city he came from matches and 'if' his wife was Lily, then she had already left for the UK, so a putting a friend on the form, rather than his wife, seems okay too.
Right Hand side of the form:
yes he has a ticket to get to Minnesota, paid for by a friend, No he doesn't have at least $50 with him.
never been in the US before, (stamp- Contract Laborer) Name & Address of person he is joining: Chief Engineer {can't read the next word} Machinery Co, {same city name I couldn't read before}
skip the next few columns about his appearance, health etc etc
and then . .
Country of Birth England City or Town of birth GATESHEAD ON TYNE Whoopeee!!
and he landed in Quebec in May 191?on the Corsican Mega Whoopee!
Oh please, if anyone can look I'd love to know if I've read it correctly and pinned him down.
If I have read it correctly I have a new possible scenario.
For whatever reason they decided to go home to the UK. Lily/Elizabeth went first with the baby and James Arthur had a job offer in the US, so he was going there to make some money and would follow when the job was finished - OR maybe she would go back if it turned into a good, permanent job.
The US authorities wouldn't allow him to enter the US on 24th Nov 1914, so he cashed in his ticket to Minnesota and with whatever he 'did' have in his pocket maybe had just enough to get a ticket on the Grampian on 28th November 1914.
I'm worn out now! :-)
Boo