James, Alfred Francis Phillip

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James, Alfred Francis Phillip

• James, Francis

1918-1992

Francis James was a journalist and publisher. He served in World War 2 with the Royal Air Force, was shot down over France in 1942, and spent time in German POW camps. In 1945 he was invalided out of the RAF and married Joyce Staff. In 1950 he worked for the Sydney Morning Herald, before becoming managing director of 'The Anglican' newspaper in 1952. In 1957 James established the Anglican Press Ltd., which went into receivership in 1960 and was taken over by Australian Consolidated Press. In 1969 he travelled to China and was imprisoned for spying, remaining in prison until 1970 when he was released, thanks to lobbying by his friend Gough Whitlam, who was Australian Prime Minister at the time.