James was born Judah Shanfeld on 22 December 1909 to Romanian born parents Abraham and Yetta nee Altman and he had five siblings. Their father Abraham worked as a tailors presser and died in 1932.

James married Jean Goldser in Stepney, London in April 1934 and their daughter Marianne was born in 1939. The 1939 Register states that James was working as a master printer in Hackney and his wife and child were living in Hemel Hempstead on the night of the registration.

James was training as an observer in South Africa when he was killed. He was onboard Anson 1212 which departed from SAAF Collondale on a photographic pin pointing training exercise. The aircraft collided with Anson 3164 and crashed on Cove Rock Road killing all five crew. Anson 3134 landed safely.

The crew killed were:
2nd Lieutenant, Charles Peter David, SAAF, 103953
P/O, Douglas Ian Fraser, RAAF, 402498
LAC, Edward Portnell, 1046323
LAC, Thomas Edward Denis Tighe, RAAF, 401472