A highly qualified gunnery lieutenant, James Fitzjames was in demand: together with his experience of the Middle East, this won him the position of gunnery lieutenant on in the Egyptian–Ottoman War of 1839 to 1840. He was regarded as an effective officer and was especially commended by Admiral Sir Charles Napier for landing at night to distribute a proclamation to Egyptian soldiers at their camp. It was very risky enterprise, but he was able to escape back to "Ganges".