HEFNER, James
| Service Number: | 2183 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 35th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia, 26 July 1893 |
| Home Town: | Wallsend, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Wallsend Superior Public School, Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Fireman |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 10 February 1917, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, N.S.W.G.R. Loco Depot Port Waratah HR, Wallsend Soldier's Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 11 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2183, 35th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2183, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2183, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney |
Help us honour James Hefner's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Memorialised at Sandgate Cemetery.
106 years ago today, on the 10th February 1917, Private James Hefner, also known as Jas or Jim, 35th Battalion (Reg No-2183), railway fireman, Werris Creek (N.S.W. Railways), from Robert Street, Plattsburg (Wallsend) New South Wales, was Killed in Action at Armentieres, Northern France, age 23 years, 8 months. Cause of death not stated.
Born at Plattsburg (Wallsend), New South Wales on the 26th May 1893 to Philip (died 25.2.1895, age 46, buried Minmi Cemetery) and Ellen Hefner nee Collins (died 15.4.1927, age 74 ) of Robert Street, Plattsburg (Wallsend) New South Wales, Jas enlisted May 1916 at Lambton, N.S.W.
Jas is resting at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France. Plot IV Row E Grave 12.
Mr. Hefner’s name has been inscribed on the Wallsend Soldiers' Memorial, Wallsend Municipal & District Roll of Honor, Port Waratah Locomotive Depot Roll of Honour, Federal Park Wallsend War Memorial, Book of Gold, NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour 1914-1919, Werris Creek Railways Honour Roll WWI and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall. Name would be inscribed on the Wallsend & Plattsburg G.U.O. of Free Gardeners' (Royal Oak Lodge No. 9) Roll of Honour, unveiled on the 24th June 1916, framed certificate from the Grand United Order of Free Gardeners of Australasia, Royal Oak Lodge, No. 9. Presented to James Hefner, who served for King and Country in the Great War 1914-1918 was acquired in 2004 and is now in the Harrower Collection.
Place of Association – Wallsend, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
I will place poppies at the Hefner memorialised gravesite in remembrance of James’s service and supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. ANGLICAN 1-55. 14.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Lest We Forget.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
James HEFNER (Service Number 2183) was born in Plattsburg, near Newcastle, on 26th May 1893. His father died in 1895. James joined the NSW Government Railways as a cleaner (first step on the career path of an engineman) at Hamilton locomotive depot in February 1914. In March 1915 was transferred to Werris Creek. He was an acting fireman when he enlisted in the AIF at Lambton in May 1916.
He embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Anchises’ in August 1916. He landed in England in October and the same month was ‘taken on strength’ by the 35th Battalion, ‘Newcastle’s Own’. He was sent to France in November. On 10th February 1917 he was killed in action.
Captain H. Connell, his commanding officer, wrote to Hefner’s mother, telling her that he was killed:
‘at night, while he was engaged carrying into the trenches… Your son earned the esteem and goodwill of officers and men. His platoon commander speaks very highly of him, and with his comrades he was very popular. Allow me to express my deepest sympathy for you and all your family in your very sad bereavement. It will be your consolation that you gave a son for your country, that he gave his life for the highest a man can be capable of, for his country and for justice. I am proud to be associated in this great cause with such men as your son was. With the knowledge we have, and as far as we are able, we are endeavouring to play our part as men.’
He was buried in the Cité Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentières.
A war pension was granted to his mother.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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