His father had served in the British Army in India and Afghanistan and after being wounded there had been invalided back to Britain where he married. When the British government agreed to transport convicts to Western Australia, James elected to become part of the Enrolled Pensioner Guard, guarding the convicts on their voyage to Western Australia.
His father had served in the British Army in India and Afghanistan, and after being wounded there, he was invalided back to Britain where he married. When the British government agreed to transport convicts to Western Australia, James decided to join the Enrolled Pensioner Guard, tasked with protecting the convicts during their journey.