James received his medical education at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, qualifying L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S.I., then later gained L.M. at Rotunda Hospital, Dublin. He joined the Medical Services, at the rank of Lieutenant on 27th July 1899, then saw active service in the South Africa War from 1899 to 1902, gaining the Queen’s South African Medal with 5 clasps, and the King’s South African Medal with 2 clasps. He then went to India, where he served from 1902 to 1904, during which time he was promoted to Captain on 27th July 1902. From 1907 to 1909 he served in Sierra Leone. On 27th April 1911 he was promoted to the rank of Major. When war was declared, James was posted to became the Commanding Officer of the 1st Cavalry Field Ambulance at the time it assembled in August 1914. He entered the war in France with the unit on 16th August 1914. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 1st March 1915. In 1917, he went to India and served there until 1921, as the Officer Commanding the British Stationary Hospital, Balgaum, South India. He continued to serve in the Medical Services after the war, serving in West Africa 1924 - 1925, and Gibraltar 1926 - 1929. During this time, on 15th April 1926 he gained the rank of Colonel. He retired with pay on 26th September 1929. He was the son of H H Langstaff, M.D. of Athlone; and the husband of Dorothy, daughter of Sir Ronald Ross - they had one son.