author

Lionel James

1871–1955

A globe-trotting war correspondent, he wrote from imperial frontiers, South Africa, and the Russo-Japanese War. His work is remembered not just for vivid reporting, but also for helping pioneer the use of wireless transmission in journalism.

1 Audiobook

On the Heels of De Wet

On the Heels of De Wet

by Lionel James

About the author

Lionel James was a British journalist and author whose career took him to several major military campaigns of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sources identify him as Reuters’ special correspondent during the Chitral campaign of 1894–95 and The Times special correspondent in South Africa from 1899 to 1901.

He also wrote books including With the Chitral Relief Force, On the Heels of De Wet, The Indian Frontier War, and The Yellow War. In addition, Wikisource notes that he contributed to the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.

James is especially associated with war reporting in the Far East. Historical references say that while covering the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, he used wireless transmission to send news from the scene, an achievement that made him a notable figure in the history of journalism. Records at The National Archives also show papers relating to his work as a Times correspondent.