Information about birth

Year of birth:
1888
Place of birth:
Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

General information

Last known residence:
11 Mitchell Street, Tighes Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Profession:
Railway Shunter
Religion:
Presbyterian

Army information

Country:
Australia
Force:
Australian Imperial Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
125
Enlistment date:
06/12/1915
Enlistment place:
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Units:
 —  Australian Infantry, 35th Bn. (Newcastle's Own Regiment)  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
12/10/1917
Place of death:
Northeast of Keerselaarhoek, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
29

Cemetery

Tyne Cot Cemetery
Plot: XXIII
Row: B
Grave: 13

Points of interest 4

#1 Place of birth
#2 Last known residence
#3 Enlistment place
#4 Place of death (approximate)

My story

James Inman was the son of Thomas and Jane Inman. He was born around 1888 in Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire. He emigrated to Australia and worked as a railway shunter. James enlisted in the Australian Army and was a part of the 35th Battalion Australian Infantry Regiment (9th Brigade, 3rd Division).

James died on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting lines of the attack on Passchendaele were near Keerselaarhoek. At 5.25 a.m., the starting signal for the attack was given. The 35th Battalion advanced in support of the 34th Battalion. They managed to capture Hillside Farm and Augustus Wood, thus reaching their first objectives. After a temporary delay due to machine gun fire, they managed to advance further. The consolidation lasted until around 3 p.m. The battalion was then forced to retreat to the vicinity of Augustus Wood. The attack ended about 300 yards beyond the original starting lines.

James died at the age of 29. According to a witness, he was hit by machine-gun fire when they were in nearby shell holes. They were held up by a pill box. Although he saw James and another wounded comrade walk away afterwards, both men were fatally hit on their way back. After the war, his body was recovered near Hillside Farm. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.

Sources 5

35th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/52/4).
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources used
Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455 INMAN J).
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/
Sources used
Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1048099).
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources used
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 129.
Sources used
Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8).
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources used

More information 4