James was educated at Robert Gordon's College and at Aberdeen University, where he graduated M.B., Ch.B. in 1904. He held a house appointment at the Royal Infirmary and then travelled to South America and India before returning to Aberdeen, where he became senior assistant anaesthetist to the Infirmary. He then attained academic distinction, gaining the diplomas of M.D. in 1908 and Ch.M. (Hons.) in 1909, and a thesis on the newer methods of diagnosis in urinary disease. He was a clinical assistant at St Mark’s Hospital, London, and attended clinics in Dublin, Hamburg, and Berlin - giving him an all-round knowledge, and his attendance as Clinical Assistant at the Samaritan Free Hospital, London, winning high recommendation from such eminent authorities as Bumin and Nagel of Berlin, and McCann of the Samaritan Hospital, with an appointment as Medical Officer to the Dooars, India, gave him valuable experience. His reputation was further increased by the efficiency with which he dealt with an extensive outbreak of cholera. James was already a captain in the R.A.M.C., 1st Highland Divisional FIeld Ambulance (T.F.) at the outbreak of war. He took a leading part in raising the second company - the 2/1st Highland Field Ambulance, to which he became attached, and entered the war in France on 5th May 1915. He rose rapidly in rank, and commanded the unit. On the day he died, he became the Forward Evacuation Officer. His headquarters was set up at Gropi Camp, Lebucquieere. At 11.00 a.m. he was getting his men into a sunken road for shelter because the headquarters came under shellfire, when a shell landed, killing him instantly and mortally wounding one of his officers - Capt B G Beveridge. James was the son of John Robertson; and the husband of Elizabeth J. Catto Robertson of 95 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen - the only daughter of the late Rev. John Catto of Fintray.