Information about birth

Year of birth:
1892
Place of birth:
Bena, Victoria, Australia

General information

Profession:
Bushman

Army information

Country:
Australia
Force:
Australian Imperial Force
Rank:
Sergeant
Service number:
1637a
Enlistment place:
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Units:
 —  Australian Infantry, 49th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
12/10/1917
Place of death:
Gasometer, Zonnebeke, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
25

Memorial

Distinctions and medals 3

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place
#3 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Arthur James, a former bushman, was born in 1892 in Bena, Victoria, Australia. On 9 August 1915 he enlisted at Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Arthur served as a sergeant in the 49th Bn. Australian Infantry, part of the 13th Australian Brigade, of the 4th Australian Division.

The 49th Bn. Australian Infantry moved into the line near Broodseinde in the night between the 9-10 October 1917. The next night they were moved further back into close support. The Battalion was relieved in the night between 13-14 October 1917.

Arthur James, aged 25, was killed in action on October 12, 1917. The dug-out where he sought cover was hit by a shell and collapsed. Four men lost their lives and Sergeant James was amongst them. This information was related by Eric Graham Waltisbuhl in March 1918 to the Australian Red Cross staff, who were searching for missing Australian soldiers. Waltisbuhl stated that he occupied the same dug-out and was talking to James when the shell hit. In contrast to the other occupants, Waltisbuhl survived unscathed. The four were initially buried near the Gasometer along the Zonnebeke-Broodseinde road. Their graves were marked with rifles stuck into the ground, but the remains were not recovered or identified after the war. Sergeant James has no known grave and is remembered on panel 29 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Files 1

Sources 3

49th Infantry Battalion (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/66/16).
https://www.awm.gov.au
Sources used
Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1064166).
https://www.awm.gov.au
Sources used
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455).
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au
Sources used

More information 4