James had already seen service in the South African War. On Wednesday 7th April 1915 he met up with Frank Hett, who proposed that they join the London Sanitary Coy, RAMC so that they would serve together as they did in the South African War. The following Friday they both went to London and joined at the Duke of York's School, Chelsea. After a peroid of squad drill, phsyical drill, lectures and marches they were both transferred to Section 42 and sent to Aldershot where the unit was attached to the 25th Division. On Sunday 25th September 1915, the unit entrained at Aldershot for Southampton where they embarked for France. During 1917 James transferred to 116 Sanitary Section. On Thursday 20th September 1917 at 8.30, he paraded at Duke of York's Schools' Chelsea, then left Sloane Square Station for Waterloo Station and trained there for Southampton. When he arrived in Southampton he was put in charge of 12 A.S.C. Motor Drivers and sailed to Rouen. From Rouen, James travelled to Marseilles to a rest camp, then three days later he boarded 'Minnetonka', which sailed on the 29th September for Malta. James spent the rest of his war service on the Eastern Front, he was discharged from service on the 6th April 1919. James died in 1940 in a road accident in South Shields. [Information and photograph kindly provided by James's Grandson Mike]