James was educated at King Edward�s Grammar School, Aston, and at Birmingham University, where he graduated B.Sc in 1908, and M.B. Ch.B. in 1911. He became House Surgeon at the General Hospital, and was later Assistant School Medical Officer under the Birmingham Education Committee. James gained a temporary commission at the rank of Lieutenant in the R.A.M.C. on 1st February 1915 and promoted to Temporary Captain after one years service. For a time he was engaged on embarkation duty at Southampton, then took command of an ambulance train, and later served on hospital ships. He entered the war in France on 7th January 1916, becoming attached to the Royal Flying Corps, and subsequently became medical officer to the Royal Field Artillery, and was serving with them when he died. His Lt/Col wrote: �We in the brigade will feel his loss deeply. He was a most gallant officer, and throughout the operations we are engaged in had ministered to the wounded with a care and promptitude that was beyond praise.� A Major also wrote: �We all miss him very much as we all, officers and men, had a great affection for him, and if you are writing to his father you might tell him this, and give him our sincerest sympathy. Capt Bampton would go through any barrage or danger to get to a man if help was wanted when a man was wounded or sick, and was one of the pluckiest men I have ever seen. James was the son of Henry and Henrietta Alexandra (daughter of the Rev. George Whitehead) Bampton of Hillside, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham.