James Thomas Lewis (Big Jim) BARWICK MM

BARWICK, James Thomas Lewis

Service Number: 2213
Enlisted: 24 May 1915
Last Rank: Company Sergeant Major
Last Unit: 12th Infantry Battalion
Born: Ross, Tasmania, Australia, December 1893
Home Town: Ross, Northern Midlands, Tasmania
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Clerk (Railway)
Died: Attributed to war service, Ross, Tasmania, Australia, 19 November 1938
Cemetery: Ross Anglican Cemetery, Tasmania, Australia
Memorials: Municipality of Ross Roll of Honour, Oatlands Soldiers Memorial, Ross War Memorial
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

24 May 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2213, 12th Infantry Battalion
26 Jun 1915: Involvement Private, 2213, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: ''
26 Jun 1915: Embarked Private, 2213, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Fremantle
26 Apr 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 12th Infantry Battalion
26 Jul 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 12th Infantry Battalion
10 Apr 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 12th Infantry Battalion
10 May 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 12th Infantry Battalion
8 Nov 1917: Honoured Military Medal, Bullecourt (Second), 'Led Platoon with great dash in successful counterattack, setting splendid example of coolness and cheerfulness. (Bullecourt, 6 May 1917)'
31 Jul 1918: Discharged AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 2213, 12th Infantry Battalion, 3rd MD - MU - 'deformed feet'

Help us honour James Thomas Lewis Barwick's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

The Museum at The Tasmanian Wool Centre


CSM JAMES THOMAS LEWIS BARWICK MM

James Barwick was 22 and working as a clerk for the Railways when he enlisted in May 1915. He served in the Gallipoli campaign and in France. He was awarded the Military Medal for his part in action at Bullecourt in May 1917 after he 'led a platoon with great dash in a successful counter-attack; he later carried forward a box of ammunition under heavy fire. he set his men a splendid example of coolness and cheerfulness'.

On his return from the war, he married Eva Mary Goss, sister of Cecil Goss. In 1920 James became licensee of the Ross Hotel. He also received a grant of land on the Macquarie River under the Returned Soldier Settlement Scheme. He later farmed the 1450-acre property Lewisham, running Corriedale and cross-bred sheep. James was also involved with the cycling club and successfully bred and raced greyhounds. In the greyhound world he was known as Big Jim. He died in 1938 at the age of 44 and is buried in Ross.

James’ story is part of our exhibition: Our Grateful Thanks and Loving Remembrance, a moving and deeply personal exhibition remembering the soldiers whose names are immortalised on the Ross War Memorial.

http://www.taswoolcentre.com.au/…/new-exhibition-at-the-tas…

Read more...