Hugh was educated at Paisley Grammar School and at Glasgow University, where he graduated M.B. in 1908 and M.D. in 1913. He was serving on the Metropolitan Asylums Baord, London when war was declared. He joined the R.A.M.C., Special Reserve in September 1914, under the rank of Lieutenant, then entered the war in France on 12th May 1915. He gained promoted to Captain in July 1915. James was killed by a shell, whilst attending a wounded man in a forward trench. His major wrote that his death, whilst immediate and painless to himself came as a great shock to those whom he left behind. Hugh was the second son of William and Jessie Storrie of Southpark House, Paisley.