Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Jury – A Soldier in World War One; Biography

James Jury was born in Fremantle, in the state of Western Australia. He was enrolled in Pulteney Grammar School, in Adelaide, and went on to have a full-time job as a hardware assistant. He had moved to Campbelltown, Magill to be exact, at a young age and spent the rest of his life before he was shipped off to war there. He was a single man, with no kids and Catholic, as his family had taught him to be. He had not had any relationships before the war.

James had enlisted on the 20th of January 1915 It is presumed that he enlisted for war at the age of 18, under permission of his parents. However, there was a chance that the enlisting officer turned him a blind eye. This is said as he is just at the age limit to enlist. In fact, most of soldiers enlisted like this. He enlisted to help his country, like any other soldier, and also to give a good image to his friends and family; no one wanted to be seen at home relaxing while there was a war raging. A few days after he was enlisted, he was enrolled in the 27th Infantry Battalion, and embarked on the ship ‘HMAT Euripides’ a short time later. This was the beginning of the war for James Jury.

Mr Jury endured training in both Britain and Egypt. As the training in Egypt was virtually the same, only for the sweltering heat and dangerous conditions, only the training in Britain will be spoken of. Basic training was drilling (i.e. how to march form fours). After a few weeks the more advanced training began; this included weapons handling, trench digging, routine marches, night operations and marksmanship. A trumpet call would wake up soldiers at 5.30 am and after cleaning up, ‘having a brew’, at 6.30 am soldiers would parade for an hour and a half to keep up their fitness. Breakfast was at 8.00 am. There would be constant drills after breakfast. Between 12.15 pm and 2.00 pm the soldiers would stop for lunch. They then would continue marching until 4.15 pm. After this soldiers were mostly off duty, although some unlucky men were ‘detailed for work parties’. In large towns, for example Aldershot, they might have luxuries such as a library, a buffet, recreation rooms and private baths. The next stage of training could include weeks, or even months, of specialised training for if a soldier was to become a machine gunner, a cook or a signaller.

James was enrolled in the 27th Infantry Battalion some days after he had enlisted. This was created on the 19th of March 1915, and, as expected, most recruits were from southern Adelaide. Over the course of the war, 762 men were killed and 2,155 men were wounded.

By the time James died he had been promoted from the rank Private to Second Lieutenant. As well as this, he had fought in four battles, when he was struck down. He was evacuated in Gallipoli, fought in Alexandria as well as the Marcelles, where his battalion was relieved by the 4th Division two days after the initial fighting began. He died in Belgium, on the 9/10/1917, only 20 years and 5 months old. A rifle and a bayonet was standard, and he carried those weapons into war.

James was awarded three service medals. The 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. 

Other references:

Training to be a Soldier n.d., British Library, accessed 22 March 2016, <http://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/training-to-be-a-soldier>.

Propaganda 2016, Ergo, accessed 22 March 2016, <http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/australia-wwi/home-wwi/propaganda>.

The British campaign medals of WW1 n.d., The Long, Long Trail, accessed 22 March 2016, <http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/australia-wwi/home-wwi/propagandahttp://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/themedals.html>.

NAA: B2445, Jury James 2016, National Archives of Australia, accessed 1 April 2016, <http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=7366443>.