James was educated at Skene Street School, Aberdeen. He joined the R.A.M.C. on 7th April 1911. He was 23 years old, was employed by the Northern C0-operative Co, and was living at 39A West High Street at the time. He was promoted to Serjeant on 26th September 1914. James embarked at Southampton on 30th April 1915, disembarking at Havre the next day he entered the war in France on 1st May. He was killed, along with 303009 Sjt Robert Ledingham, at 10.00 p.m. by a salvo, which had been fired straight into the M.D.S. at Poperinghe. His Commanding Officer wrote "He had been out with us from the beginning, and before I took over command of the unit he was one of my Section Sergeants. So we had always been in close touch with each other. He was always absolutely reliable, bright, hard-working and cheery, and in losing him I have lost not only a most dependable and loyal N.C.O., but a valued and personal friend. When he was killed he was working at a Corps Main Dressing Station, and I should like you to know he was most highly thought of." James was the eldest son of Alexander and Eliza Keith Russell of 68 Rose Street, Aberdeen