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Arthur JAMES
Regimental number 689 Place of birth Paddington, London, England
Other Names Arthur Mossop School Cook's Ground, Chelsea, London, England Age on arrival in Australia 24 Religion Church of ngland Occupation Clerk Address 'Alicia', Railway Street, Epping, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital status Single Age at embarkation 25 Height 5' 8.25" Weight 136 lbs
Next of kin Mother, Mrs Susan Ashton, 227 Guinness Buildings, Chelsea, London, England
Previous military service
Served for 2 months in the 48th Canadians Royal Scots [?]; left the district.
Enlistment date 8 July 1915 Place of enlistment Liverpool, New South Wales Rank on enlistment Private Unit name 30th Battalion, C Company AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/47/1
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on 9 November 1915 Fate Killed in Action 20 July 1916 Place of death or wounding The Somme, France Age at death 28 Age at death from cemetery records 28 Place of burial No known grave
Commemoration details V.C. Corner (Panel No 2), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,Australian War Memorial 117 Miscellaneous information from
cemetery records Parents: Albert JAMES and Sarah Susan ASHTON (formerly JAMES), 240 Guinness Buildings, Draycott Avenue, Chelsea, London, England Other details War service: Egypt, Western FrontEmbarked Sydney, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 11 December 1915.Admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance, Rel el Kebir, 15 February 1916 (sprained ankle); discharged to unit, 16 February 1916.Found guilty, 22 March 1916, of using improper language to an NCO: awarded 3 days' punishment drill.Admitted to 8th Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 15 April 1916 (diarrhoea); discharged to and rejoined unit, 19 April 1916.Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 6 May 1916 (accidentally injured, left arm, while practising bomb throwing), and transferred same day to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station; discharged to duty, and rejoined Bn, 8 May 1916.Admitted to 8th Field Ambulance, 17 May 1916 (old bomb wound, left arm), and transferred same day to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station; to No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, 19 May 1916; discharged to and rejoined Bn, 3 June 1916.Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.
Reported missing, 20 July 1916.
Note on Form B103: 'Identity Disc received from Germany. No particulars were afforded except that Soldier was deceased. May now be reported "KILLED IN ACTION" 20/7/16.'
German report, 2 August 1916: 'austr. Sold. James, Arthur C. 30. Batt. austr. Nr. 689. am 19.7 in Gegend Fromelles gefallen.'
Red Cross File No 1420605 has statement from 741 Pte F.W. RAYSMITH, 30th Bn, 28 August 1916: 'I knew James; his initials were A, and he was in C.C. and his number was 689. He was wounded on the back of the shoulder (left) on the 19th. July, at Fleurbaix, and was in No. 8 Stationary [Hospital] at Boulogne with me afterwards and went to England from such hospital on the 21st. July. I am quite certain of the above facts.' Note by interviewer: 'One of the most intelligent and careful witnesses I have ever met.'
Second statement, 759 Pte F. SCHOLES, Machine Gun Section, 30th Bn (patient, No 6 General Hospital, Rouen), 7 December 1916: Informant was told by Pte. C.R. Daws of C Co., 9 Pl. [cannot be identified], that he was with A. James when he was killed. He was shot in the stomach. It was on the 19th July at Fromelles between the German 1st and 2nd lines.'
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Sources NAA: B2455, JAMES Arthur
Red Cross file 1420605
http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=151521LEST WE FORGET
