James' service record is a lille scant. He stated on attestation that he had a wife in England, that he was living in Wyndham and worked as a labourer for Cook Brothers.

"An inquest was held in the Ashburton Courthouse to-day before Mr V. G. Day, District Coroner, touching the death of Sergeant James Herbert Preston, who died yesterday morning in the hospital from injuries received through falling down the stairs at the Canterbury Hotel, Methven, on Friday night. Mr Dart watched the case on behalf of the licensee, William Robins. Herbert Henry Clifford Preston, son of the deceased gave evidence. He said he met his father at Methven on Friday night. His father showed no signs of liquor, though he had had one or two beers. Witness procured a bed for his father at the Canterbury Hotel and after having a small beer the father walked quite steadily up the stairs to bed. About nine o'clock witness took his father's putties and boots off and bade him good-night and then went back to where he was working. William Robins, licensee of the hotel, stated that deceased was a perfect stranger to him. He procured a bed and went to his room about nine o'clock. Deceased as far as he could tell was perfectly sober. About 11 p.m. the house was in darkness and all were in bed. Witness heard a noise; and on going out found deceased lying unconscious at the bottom of the stairs.  Preston appeared either to have slid or fallen down over the bannisters. Witness immediately procured a doctor and then went for the son. Deceased did not regain consciousness before being removed to the Ashburton Hospital next morning. William Aitken, builder, stated that he was with deceased for a while in the billiard room. Deceased was perfectly sober and showed no signs whatever of having had drink. Dr Hunter, gave evidence that the immediate cause of death was concussion of the brain, which might have been caused through his falling downstairs.  A verdict was returned that the  cause of death was concussion of the brain, caused through deceased having accidentally fallen down the stairs or over the stair railing."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11891, 28 December 1916, Page 6