War service: Egypt, Western Front

Joined 4th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 21 January 1916.

Transferred to 56th Bn, and taken on strength, 16 February 1916.

Transferred to 14th Australian Machine Gun Company, 10 March 1916.

Detached to School of Instruction, 1 April 1916; rejoined unit from detachment, 23 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 25 June 1916.

Killed in action, 20 July 1916.

Red Cross File No 1420704 has statement from 2818 J. ELIIOTT, 56th Bn, 6 November 1916: 'He came from Bathurst, N.S. Wales, and was buried in a cemetery between Sailly and Estairs (?), Bac-St.-Maur (?) Road. I saw his grave there.'

Second statement, 3330 Pte P.G. HUGHES (patient, 23rd General Hospital, Etaples), 6 November 1916: 'James was killed by shell: I did not see it happen but I saw him lying afterwards. I think he was buried at the top of Pinney's Avenue (?) in the cemetery.'

Third statement, 2780 Lance Corporal B.H. PHILLIPS, 56th Bn, '[2705 C.W.] Johnston was a L.M. Gunner and James was in A. Company. We made an attack on the 19th and were driven back to our own lines, and these two and three others were killed by the same shell in our trench. James' head was practically blown off. I - a stretcher bearer - was on the next bay and was called in. James and Johnston were both taken out and buried in a Cemetery behind the lines. I think the cemetery at the mouth of "V.C. Avenue" near Fleurbaix. I knew Johnston very well indeed, but James not so well.'

Fourth statement, 1704 Pte G.W. MURRAY, 56th Bn (patient, 9th General Hospital, Rouen), 16 November 1916: 'I saw this man killed by a piece of shell hitting him on the head on the 20th July near Fromelles. I heard afterwards that he was buried.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal