James enlisted on 26th October 1914. He entered the war in Egypt on 13th June 1915. He died when serving on H.M.H.S. "Salta" when it struck a mine and sank half a mile north of the Whistle Bouy, Havre, on 10th April 1917. James was the son of James and Helen Runciman of Inchture, Perthshire.