He initially served with his father's World War I regiment, the Black Watch, and then with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
After National Service, James attended Trinity College, Oxford to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics (1948).
His best known novel was his first, Tunes of Glory (1956), which was turned into a well-known film of the same name starring Alec Guinness and John Mills.
A stage adaptation of Some Gorgeous Accident was presented at the Assembly Rooms as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2010.
Kennaway died of a heart attack while driving home to Lechlade, Gloucestershire from London at the age of 40.