James enlisted on 8th January 1906. He was 19 years and 1 month old, and was a Butcher by trade. He entered the war in France on 19th August 1914 with the 2nd Field Ambulance, but was admitted into hospital on 21st November suffering with Rheumatic Fever and was evacuated back to the UK on the 30th. He was discharged �no longer physically fit for war service� on 12th April 1915.