MINCHIN, James Basil
| Service Number: | 358 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 September 1914, An original of A Company |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Sandalford, Western Australia, 15 June 1894 |
| Home Town: | Balkuling, Beverley, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Beverley, Western Australia, 1 November 1936, aged 42 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Beverley District Honour Roll WW1, Beverley Jacobs Well District HR, Beverley War Memorial, Swanleigh St. Mary's Church HR WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 358, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), An original of A Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 358, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 358, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 22 Mar 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 16 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 16 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 2 Aug 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Honoured Military Cross, Polygon Wood | |
| 1 May 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory | |
| 31 Dec 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches |
James Basil MINCHIN
James Basil Minchin, No.358, 16th Battalion 1st A.I.F.
Born 15/06/1894-Died 01/11/1936.
''Bas" was born on a farm at Beverly in Western Australia to a family who were early
setlers in the district. He enlisted in the 16th Battlion in September, 1914 and served with the Battalion on Gallipoli and in France as a machinegunner. He later claimed he went from camp cook to Lieutenant.
Commissioned in the field, he was awarded the DSO and MC.
After the War, he returned to the farm at Beverly, but died of his war injuries in 1936.
"Bas" served in the 16th Battalions mighty machinegun team with luminaries such as Percy Black DSO,DCM, Harry Murray VC,CMG,DSO,DCM and Dominic "Fats" McCarthy VC. Murray, Minchin and McCarthy were known as the "Three Ms"
Submitted 8 September 2015 by Graham PIKE
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
James Basil Minchin, born in 1984 and only 20 years of age when he enlisted went from a mere farm boy who had disciplinary problems when he first joined the AIF, to become an ‘outstanding leader of an outstanding battalion’. He landed on the morning of 25 April 1915 at Gallipoli and, for the next three and a half years, didn’t suffer a wound. He won the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), the Military Cross (MC) and was Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) twice.
His elder brother Joseph Henry Minchin served in the Boer War with the 6th Western Australia Mounted Infantry. He enlisted again in WW1. 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Minchin 51st Battalion AIF was killed in action 2 April 1917, age 35.
James Basil Minchin somehow went through the whole Gallipoli campaign with being wounded or going sick, a feat in itself. Promoted to corporal in Egypt, he went to France with the 16th in June 1916 and took part in major fighting on the Western Front. By February 1917, having received his first MID ‘for continuously good and gallant service’, he was selected for officer training in Oxford, England with the 4th Officer Cadet Battalion. The 6 months there must have been a welcome respite. It also meant he missed the slaughter at Bullecourt that decimated the 16th. Re-joining the 16th during August 1917 he took part in the Battle of Passchendaele and was awarded an MC for his actions at Polygon Wood.
‘This officer is brought under notice for coolness and capable leadership near Zonnebecke on 26th September 1917. While in the support line both before and after the attack he was placed in charge of various carrying parties to the front line. On one of these occasions, having to proceed with his party to the front line of the adjoining sector over very difficult and unknown ground., and through a very heavy enemy barrage, it was entirely due to his splendid coolness and ability to handle large parties of men under dangerous circumstances that he was able to bring his men back with the minimum of casualties. Also throughout the attack he specially distinguished himself by his fine leadership, coolness, personal example and control of his platoon. He at all times showed absolute disregard for personal safety. On arrival at the Red Line (our objective) he again distinguished himself in the work of consolidation and the great assistance he rendered in assisting to reorganise the Company under heavy shell fire. The success of his Company is largely due to his fine example and good work. He is strongly recommended for high distinction.’
More honours were to come. At the famous Battle of Hamel on 04/07/18 Basil, by now a full Lieutenant, had to take command when his company commander was mortally wounded. After his great mate Thomas ‘Jack’ Axford single-handedly wiped out the machine guns on their flank, Basil led his company forward, killing and capturing the enemy in great numbers and reaching their destination point. For this he received his DSO,
'Is brought to notice for conspicuous gallant conduct during operations against Vaire and Hamel Woods, east of Corbie on the morning of 4th July 1918. He led his platoon to the first wave of the attack. On striking the first enemy positions west of Vaire Wood, strong opposition was encountered. He personally killed one Officer and several other men, and the balance, including one Officer and 20 other ranks, he captured. In this encounter he took one machine gun and one heavy minenwerfer. In his advance he next encountered a machine gun nest near the south end of the copse in front of Vaire Wood. He again led his men in an important charge. Some 6 of the enemy were killed, two of whom Lieutenant Minchin himself accounted for. The balance of the crews, also the guns were captured. At this stage he discovered his Company Commander had been killed. He thereupon assumed command of his Company: superintended its operations, and brilliantly completed the task assigned to the Company. Throughout the whole operation, he set a magnificent example of gallantry and leadership. He is very strongly recommended for distinction.'
He returned home to the farm, married and had a son, but by the end of the 1920s was asking for a pension and died at the young age of 42.
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