James was educated at the Royal Academical Institution; at Queen’s College, Belfast; and at Edinburgh University, where is qualified M.B., Ch.B. in 1902 and M.D. with commendation in 1906. He then became a student at St Bartholomew's Hospital to study for the diplomas of F.R.C.S., which he obtained in 1911. After serving as a house-surgeon at the Royal Albert Hospital, Devonport, and at the Chesterfield and North Derby Hospital, and as resident medical officer to the Throat Hospital, Golden Square, he entered practice in London. James volunteered at the outbreak of war, and joined the R.A.M.C. on the 10th October 1914, at the rank of Lieutenant. At the time of joining the Army he was a chief assistant to the Aural Department at St Bartholomew's Hospital and surgeon-in-charge of the Throat, Nose and Ear Department at the Queen's Hospital for Children, London. He was at first placed in charge of wounded officers at the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich, then entered the war in Egypt on the 19th March 1915, and was promoted to the rank of Captain in December 1915. Most of his service was working at No 55 (2/2nd London) Casualty Clearing Station, but in March 1917 he was invalided after a severe chill and later, having collapsed while operating, was found to have albuminuria. James died at the Archeson Military Hospital, Regent's Park. He was the second son of James Connolly of 99 Kenilworth Court, Putney.