James enlisted into H.M.S. on the 26th June 1915 and was posted to the Army Pay Corps as he requested when he enlisted, he was 29 years and 1 month old, a clerk by trade and living at 2 Rehobeth Avenue, South Circular Road, Dublin with his wife Margaret at the time. He served under the service number 7368 but on 3rd April 1916 he was transferred to the 11th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers, service number 30374. James kept going absent without leave and on 16th July 1918 was transferred to serve with the R.A.M.C., joining the 7th Training Battalion at Blackpool. [Information source: James's service record. (List of R.M.S. Leinster casualties kindly provided by Philip Lecane)]