The AIF Project

James CATHELS

Regimental number6784
Place of birthSydney New South Wales
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationCarter
AddressWyong, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Next of kinSister, Miss Agnes Cathels, Craig Roy Stan, 13 Jane Street, Balmain, New South Wales
Enlistment date28 May 1917
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll24 May 1917
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name17th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/34/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on 16 June 1917
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll17th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


Work at Mont St. Quentin on 31 August 1918.
Recommendation date: 7 September 1918

FateReturned to Australia 5 March 1919
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsPlaque in Garden of Remembrance, New South Wales
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Plaque in New South Wales Garden of Remembrance
Medals

Military Medal

'This runner is a fearless boy who continuously carried messages to the front line through heavy barrages, and, further on, direct machine gun fire, during the operation at MONT ST. QUENTIN near PERONNE, on 31st August 1918. When requested by an artillery officer to accompany him with the object of putting out of action a machine gun and party of 16 enemy who had worked into a position near Battalion Headquarters he readily complied, despite the odds. They were successful, the enemy retreating, and the gun was captured.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 115
Date: 10 October 1919

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death1 August 1955
Age at death55

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