James enlisted on 12th January 1914. He was 18 years and 13 days old, and was a Farmer by trade. He entered the war in France on 16th August 1914 with the 4th Field Ambulance. His name appears on a list of R.A.M.C. personnel who were taken captive up to & including 31st December 1914. His address was given as Balshaw Farm, Birkdale, Southport - (kindly provided by Steve Mattocks). In the early hours of 26th August, the 4th Field Ambulance were ordered to go to Landrecies to treat and evacuate the wounded. A couple of hours after entering the town the Germans arrived, and James became one of 219 of the rank and file of the R.A.M.C. to be held captive there. He was taken to Germany entering Sennelager POW camp on 4th September 1914. He returned to England on 29th June 1915 and served in the UK until 7th October 1915, when he was posted to serve with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. He continued serving with the E.E.F. until 18th March 1919, except for a small break in the UK from 14th March to 13th May 1916. On 6th February 1918 he was appointed the rank of acting Lance Corporal, and on 8th February 1919 he was appointed the rank of acting Lance Serjeant. On both occasions he was serving with No 37 General Hospital as a operating room attendant and instruction in dispensary. He was transferred to Army Reserve, Section "B" on 3rd May 1919. He was the son of John and Margaret Eden of Balsham Farm, Birkdale, Southport.