Son of Thomas and Sarah. He enlisted at Tonypandy into the Carmarthen Pals battalion, attached to 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division.
James was killed in Mametz Wood on 11 [10 ar y garreg fedd] July 1916. He was 23 years old, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. There was also a memorial to James at Capel Bethlehem, Cwmerfyn, later removed to his sister’s (Elizabeth Jane Powell) grave in Garn cemetery on the closure of the chapel on 15 December 2002.