Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Mac Farlane  (6059)

James McFarlane was born on 12 February 1874 to Adam MacFarlane and Mary Ann Thompson at Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England. He describes himself as a "natural born British subject".

He enlisted into the Northumberland Fusiliers, an infantry regiment of the British Army, on 28 March 1894  with the rank of Private (4194). Upon enllistment his occupation is listed as slater on the service record. He was home based until 5 October 1896 at which time he was posted to Gibraltar. Admitted to hospital  on 7 November 1897 unable to march without pain in  his legs, his condition being  diagnosed as varicose veins.  Proposed for discharge he was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley in England on 30 January 1898 aboard the SS Avoca to await medical decision. On 15 March 1898 he was discharged as an invalid.

On 22 June1898 he married Elizabeth Melinda Carlisle  and they had 2 children viz. Melinda Grace (1900) and Elizabeth Mercy (1907). He departed London on 29 March 1911 aboard the SS Narrung bound for Australia to make a new home and disembarked at Sydney on 23 May 1911. His occupation is listed as railway plate layer on embarkation. His family remained behind and as boarders with the Napier family awaiting his beckoning. On the 23rd February 1912  Elizabeth and family arrived in Sydney aboard the SS Rangatira from London and settled at 130 Oxford Street in Woolhara to begin their new life .

Approaching the age of forty, he had 2 terminal joints on fingers of his left hand missing and numerous scars on the back of his legs and thighs from a previous operation. But he was classified fit for active service at the medical examination and on the 8th March 1916 was attached to the 19th. Reinforcements 1st. Battalion as a Private. On the 22nd. August 1916 he embarked the HMAT Wiltshire A18 at Sydney bound for Plymouth, England and arrived 13th October. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 12th December 1916 but he celebrated Christmas by going AWOL for 3 days and was reverted back to Private. From there he proceeded to France on 16 January 1917 aboard the Princess Clementine from Folkstone. At the Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples he was attached to the First Battalion. After being sent to 1st Australian Division School of Instruction on 2nd April 1917 he had a few bouts in hospital beginning 12th. April caused by oedema (excess watery fluid) and pain in his legs. He was evacuated on 18th May 1917 and returned to England due to varicose veins and age.  He returned aboard the HMAT Nestor on 22 September 1917 and was invalided on 13th February 1918 permanently unfit for general service. He made a claim for a war service pension but was disallowed on the grounds "no incapacity due to military service". For his part in the Great War he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Several years after Elizabeths death he remarried on 16 February 1944 to Susan Sarah Helen Jenkins at the Salvation Army Hall in Dulwich Hall, Petersham. At that time he was residing at 27 Robert Street, Marrickville and his occupation is listed as carpenter.

On the 28th. May 1953 James died at the age of 78 and is buried at the All Saints Anglican Cemetry at Suttons Forest, Bowral alongside his wife Elizabeth.