BIRT, James Coombe
| Service Number: | 4364 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 December 1915, Blackboy Hill, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 28th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia, 1 January 1880 |
| Home Town: | Tambellup, Broomehill-Tambellup, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | North Adelaide Model School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 3 October 1918, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gouy Plot II, Row B, Grave 12 |
| Memorials: | Albany St. John's Anglican Church Lt. James Coombe Birt Memorial Plaque, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Tambellup War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4364, Blackboy Hill, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 4364, 28th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' |
|
| 31 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4364, 28th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Fremantle | |
| 5 Aug 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 26th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Jan 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Oct 1918: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Battalion, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 28 Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-10-03 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
James Coombe BIRT was born in 1875 in Wentworth, NSW
His parents were George Howard BIRT and Ellen COOMBES who married on 23rd October, 1862 in Clayton Chapel, Kensington, Adelaide, SA
He enlisted on 16th December, 1915 with the Australian Army - he was with the 28th Battalion - Unit embarked from Fremantle, WA on board HMAT Shropshire on 31st March, 1916
On 15th August, 1918 James was recommended for a Military Cross for his work near Villers Bretonneux on 8th August 1918 "For conspicious gallantry during an attack. He led his men splendidly to their objective, himself rushing an enemy strong point and capturing 20 of the enemy and two machine guns. On the objective he quickly consolidated his position & sent back useful information. Later he led a party against an enemy strong point & captured 40 prisoners and 4 machine guns. He did magnificent work."
He was also awarded the British War medal and the Victory Medal
His cousins Harry Williams BIRT (48th battalion) was also killed in action in Poziers, France in 1916 and Oscar Augusta COOMBE, (51st Battalion) killed in action 1916
James was Killed in Action on 30th October, 1918 in Picardie, France and is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in France.
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