METCALFE, James Beverley
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 November 1915, Wellington, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 10th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Norfolk Island, 13 January 1888 |
| Home Town: | Wellington, Wellington, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Norfolk Island Public School, King's School Parramatta, St Paul's College Sydney, University of Sydney |
| Occupation: | Physician |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 25 April 1918, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Vignacourt British Cemetery, Picardie I F 14 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Baulkham Hills William Thompson Masonic School War Memorial, Norfolk Island Cenotaph, Norfolk Island RSL Roll of Honour, Norfolk Island Roll of Honour, Norfolk Island Sub Branch Commemoration Garden & Memorial, Sydney United Grand Lodge Honour Roll, Wellington Cenotaph |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, Medical Officers, Wellington, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 1916: | Involvement Captain, Medical Officers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Sydney embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Mar 1916: | Embarked Captain, Medical Officers, HMAT Port Sydney, Sydney | |
| 25 Apr 1918: | Involvement Major, 10th Field Ambulance, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 10 Field Ambulance awm_rank: Major awm_died_date: 1918-04-25 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Peter Herbert and Janet Ann METCALFE of 43 Pine Street, Randwick, NSW
"NOT GONE FROM MEMORY NOR LOVE BUT GONE TO OUR FATHER'S HOME ABOVE"
General Birdwood has written to Mrs. Metcalfe, of Norfolk Island, in sympthetic terms regarding tho death of her second son, Major James Beverley Metcalfe, M.C.: —
''It is with feelings of deep sorrow that I write to you regarding your brave boy, whose death in action is mourned by so many friends here, who hold him in such high esteem and affection.
"He was, as you know, with the 10th Field Ambulance, and during the operations in tho vicinity of Albert on April 24 he was in charge of the advanced dressing station at Bonnay. This village was subjected to a very heavy bombardment of high-explosive and gas shells by the enemy, under which your son, with practically no protection, attended to the wounded.
"The dressing station had to be moved to a new site, but your boy remained in Bonnay with four men to dress and evaluate the odd cases which continued to come to the old post. Shortly afterwards two shells struck the dressing room, wounding him severely. All possible treatment was afforded him, but it was realised that his case was hopeless, and he died in one of our casualty clearing stations at Vignacourt, whore he was buried. . . . For this most gallant work, which I have described, I was glad to have the privilege of submitting a recommendation for the award of the D.S.O., which has since been approved. Alas! he was not to be spared to wear this high honor with that of the Military Cross (it will, of course, be sent you in due course), but I trust that it will be of some comfort to you to know that his gallant service has been recognised in this way, and that he was prepared to make the supreme sacrifice, doing his utmost for the noble cause of right and freedom, which we all hold so dear.
Of Mrs. Metcalfe's other son—the late Captain Frank Bramall Metcalfe, who was killed during last year, it is said in Hermes, the University magazine: "He died as he had lived—patient, resigned, cheerful—one of the finest types of men that our University has producod.''
Distinguished Service Order
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In a village under heavy bombardment of gas and high explosives, this officer, with practically no protection, tened the wounded for four and a half hours. When the advanced dressing station had been moved to a new fite, he remained with four men, evacuating odd cases which continued to come in until two shells came right into the dressing room severely wounding him. His cheerfulness and coolness throughout encouraged all around him.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15
Date: 4 February 1919
Military Cross
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 103 29/6/1917
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