 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Akaberekerwa muCardiff, James akakurira munharaunda yeSplott yeguta, achigara muCarlisle Street. Akabatana nekirabhu yekumusha kwake Cardiff City muna 1939 pakutanga kweHondo Yenyika Yechipiri. Ainge arova zvibodzwa zvakawanda zvekirabhu panguva yehondo, aionekwa semunhu anonakidza munhabvu yeWales uye akasarudzwa kuti amiririre Wales mumitambo miviri yehondo neEngland, achihwina mumutambo wekutanga waakatamba naStan Cullis. Pazera remakore 18, James akanyoresa muchiuto, achijoinha 77th HAA Regiment, Royal Artillery. Chikwata ichi chaive nevatambi venhabvu vanosanganisira vamwe vatambi veCardiff City Ernie Curtis naBilly Baker uye vakatanga rwendo rwekuNorth Africa nechikepe kuti vaendeswe. Zvisinei, vari munzira, mauto eJapan akatanga kurwisa Hong Kong, Singapore neMalaya zvichitungamira UK kuzivisa hondo kuJapan iyo yakaona James neyuniti yake vachinjirwa kukoloni yeDutch yeJava muDutch East Indies uko mauto eBritish akatambura kurasikirwa kukuru uye James aive mumwe wemauto mazhinji eBritish akatapwa. 