James enlisted on 25th February 1915 and was embodied into the East Anglian Casualty Clearing Station, Territorial Force. According to his service record he was 34 years old, and he was living at 10 Carlton Street, Kettering, Northamptonshire at the time. He embarked on the "Royal Edward" at Devonport on 30th July 1915, then arrived at Alexandria on the 11th August. He set sail to Gallipoli the next day. James's body was never found and was believed to have drowned on the sinking of H.M.T. "Royal Edward" on passage from Alexandria to Gallipoli. He was the son of James Summerfield of Brixworth, Northampton; and the husband of Georgina Summerfield of School Hill, Broughton, Kettering.