Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Before the War:

James Couttie was born in the year 1884 in Dundee Scotland. James Couttie served in the First World War from the year 1916 to the year 1919. He was a widower. James’s daughter Isabell Margaret Couttie lived in North Adelaide at the Catholic Convent, which is a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, monks, or nuns. Isabell Margaret Couttie could have been in training to be a sister or a nun. Although James’s daughter was at the Catholic convent, he was a Presbyterian. James Couttie’s listed address at the time of enlistment was Government house, James’s trade was a Motor Mechanic so it could have been very possible that he worked on the cars at Government House. James Couttie was about 3 inches short of the average height of a male at the time of enlistment being 5 ft 4.5 inches. He had light brown hair and brown eyes and his complexion was described as fresh. He also had perfect 6/6 vision which could have assisted him later on when he joined the flying corps. James lost his wife before enlisting in the war. It is not known when James Couttie came to Australia. James Couttie Also previously served in Scotland in the fife and Forfar yeomanry for 3 and a half years.

During the war:

On the 6th of January 1916, James Couttie enlisted in Adelaide to join the Australian Imperial Force as a private, and his job in the war was as a driver. His regimental number was 1005 and he was a part of the 43rd Infantry battalion. From the date of enlistment to his embarkation to the war James would have trained at Morphettville racecourse or the Mitcham training grounds. In training the soldiers would have learned how to fire a rifle, take orders, march as a battalion, physical training took place. Physical training was done in full uniform to simulate the events that would take place on the battlefield. During these physical exercises of cross country runs in full uniform, bayonet fighting, rope climbing, stretcher carrying, and crawling under barbed wire the men were tested physically as well as mentally. On the 9th of June, James embarked to Marseille in the south of France and then he proceeded to England to train as a part of the 43rd battalion in Southampton. Just before embarkation, he was promoted to the role of Sergeant. After training in England for some time James then moved back to France. After training in England James then got sick in March 1917 a disease that had him bedridden for two weeks after he recovered, he then re-joined the 43rd battalion and he fought on the western front.

In April 1917 the 43rd were fighting in Belgium across very vast paddocks in the village of Ploegsteert, James fought on a farm called Oosthove farm. Across this area, enemies were very active these battles would go through early hours of the morning with heavy artillery attacks and enemy aircraft bombarding the trenches. The battalion traveled from Ploegstreet to another small village along the western front called Le Bizet and they also got attacked they’re by enemy forces. On the French and Belgium border, the Battalion journeyed south to go to the town of Armentieres. The battalion was held up in Le Bizet until May when they encountered enemy infantry and they broke out in battle. This battle continued until June when the battalion pushed through to Armentieres. After fighting on the western front James then transferred back to England to join the Royal Australian Flying Corps. He then moved to Castle Bromwich in the west midlands of England where the No 71 also known as the No 4 flying corps were training. The squadron was awaiting mobilisation orders so they were not flying the aircraft into battle, Because of James’s former trade being a mechanic we would have known how to service and repair motors that were used in the aircraft, and the time those mainly being the Sopwith Camel and the RE8. Making the short shift of working in the battalion would have been a good break for James as he got to get away from the trenches along the western front where the 43rd battalion was fighting. On the 27th of June 1917, James Couttie was found guilty of being Absent Without Leave (AWOL).

When he returned from the Flying corps James Couttie was severely reprimanded and he was forfeited 2 days’ pay. On the 15th of August 1917, James Couttie was sent to the Number 1 Command Depot in Perham Downs. Then in September, he marched out to the overseas training brigade. He then Proceeded overseas to France after being taken on strength to the 43rd battalion. In June 1918 he was admitted to the 53rd Casualty Station after accidentally burning his left forearm in a possible mechanical accident. During this time oil spills in the vehicles were very common meaning that he could have burnt his arm fixing an engine of a car. In October 1918 James Fell sick from the very infectious disease that spread through many Australian soldiers this disease was called trench fever, this disease could spread through whole battalions. In mid-November, before the War ended Sargent James Couttie returned to duty as a part of the 43rd battalion. On November 11th the day the war ended the 43rd battalion held many activities such as a competitive rifle firing competition and a holiday was given in celebration of the armistice. After the 11th James then transferred to the 5th motor transport company where he held transported cargo back to the boats and to the camps along the western front and France. James survived the war, but he would not have left unscathed as many soldiers suffered from PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) and the vision of war still haunted them throughout their life.

Life After the war:
Unlike many of his battalion members, James Couttie did not go back to Australia and he decided to stay in England and then later move back to Dundee to work with his father to help in running a well-established Scottish biscuit and chocolate company. On the 4th of September 1919, James wrote to the AIF to request to stay in England to work for his father’s business. James Also requested to bring his two children to live in Scotland with him. At the same time, James’s father made a request earlier in 1918 and was unhappy and that the request was delayed because James's Father was very anxious that he was serving, and his dad wanted him to immediately be discharged when the war was finished. James passed in the year 1953 at the age of 68 the cause of his death was not confirmed.