James was born in Liverpool, and enlisted in Seaforth, but lived in Maghull with his wife Edith. He was killed in action in 1918 just three weeks before the end of the war. He is buried not in a war cemetery, but in the civilian cemetery at Ere Church, Hainaut, Belgium. Alongside him is a fellow corporal from the King’s (Liverpool Regiment), William Evans, who died on the same day. Two corporals who knew each other in life, united in death.