James was educated at Ballymena, and Queen’s University, Belfast, where he graduated M.B., B.Ch., and B.A.O. in March 1914. He was then appointed Medical Officer in the Union Infirmary, Belfast. He took a temporary commission as lieutenant in the R.A.M.C.on 18th December 1914, and was promoted to temporary captain after one year’s service. He went to France in October 1915, and was appointed Medical Officer to the 9th Bn. The Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He was then transferred to become Medical Officer of the 6th Bn. Connaught Rangers, and was serving with them when he was killed near St Quentin. The Chaplain wrote to his family: “It was my privilege to live in the mess with him, and, like all the others there, the more I got to know of him the more I liked him. Much as we admire his well-stocked mind, we admired and loved still more his clean, honourable personality. No one of the many - too many- from here, whom we have known and lost, has left a sweeter memory behind him.” James was the son of the Rev. James E Ferguson, B.A. (Presbyterian Minister) and Rachel Ferguson (daughter of James Glover) of Niellsbrook, Randalstown, Co. Antrim.