James Easton was born in Glasgow on 25th November 1896 . His father, also called James Easton, was a clerk. He was a student of the University of Glasgow during 1915-1916 studying English and Economic History. He was also enrolled at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Commercial College studying Economics in the same session.
He joined the Army as a clerk on 26th December 1916 and was later transferred from the Army Service Corps to B.I.O. 65th Wing, Royal Air Force at CTO Dunkerque on the 17th October 1918. He was demobilised from the unit at Georgetown, Paisley on the 22nd of January 1919.
After his return from the war he went back to the University in 1920-1921 and studied History (Higher), Political Economy, Constitutional Law & History in the Faculty of Arts. He did not continue further with his studies at the University.
From the guide to the Papers of James Easton, b 1896, arts student, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1915-1921, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
