Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Robert James Liddle was 18th Battalion, 2nd Division, 5th Brigade.

Battles fought:

Hill 60

Battle of Amiens

Battle of Lagnicourt

Battle of Menin Road

Battle of Montbrehain

Battle of Poelcapplle'

Battle of Pozieres

German Spring Offensive

Polygon Wood

Hindenburg line

Bullecourt

Amiens

Ypres

Somme

James recorded an extensive WW1 war diary of the events which took place. But due to the 7 day period this site gives to record events, unfortunately only a very minute of information is given to honour him and the brave men who faught.

James was born in Auckland  2nd March 1888, he was the 4th of 5 children born to Scottish Immigrants Robert and Magadlene Liddle from Perthshire Scotland, and he was the first to be born in New Zealand. But to understand James one has to understand his family ground.

The family name was traditionally Liddel, but was changed to Liddle some how on the Jame's immigration to Australia in 1912.

The Liddel family were farmers in the Scottish Highlands and have a great fighting history of the clans in the high lands.  The family were very strong  staunch Presbyterian Bretheran, and Robert Liddle was a strong over bearing personality, and sticking to the fire and brimstone families belief system with left the children little room error, and a breading ground for James to be independence, rebelliousness and a wild young lad.

Jame's father Robert Liddel was a coal miner Hewer, one of the most dangerous jobs in a mine.  Working under candlelight in a dark hole, it was hot work, the tunnel was so cramped that he had to work in hardly any clothes and on his knees. Being a Hewer was tough work and highly regarded among miners as the work was dangerous and physically demanding.

Robert Liddle

Magdalene Liddle

During this time of the Industrial revolution in the UK, poverty, food shortages, the English Empire was calling for Scottish citizens to immigrate to New Zealand.

Robert Liddle's father also name Robert (senior) had just recently immigrated to  Northern Australia, Gladstone for the Gold rush fever, Robert senior and his wife were in there 50's at the time of their immigration, and was working as a coach driver in the outback, with Robert's brothers and sister's already immigrated to Australia.

Robert and his wife Magdalene secured a passage to Australia, where their 3rd Child and 1st son was born John in Brisbane. and then a passage and grant in Auckland where the family set up a local store.

James went to Mount Roskill school, a small settlement just outside of Auckland, under siege from the local indigenous, and witnessing the warring tribes of the Mauri's.

James worked in his father's store, and was 15 when his father died of the plague in 1903, he served 2 years in the native rifles division, seeing action in the waring tribes.

James was naturally vibrant, rebelious, a larakin and had a way with the ladies.  It is unsure as to why he immigrated to Australia, and not much is heard about him until he signs up for enlistment.  On his enlistment papers it lists his occupation as a cashier.

James enlisted on 28-2-1915 he was 27 years of age, unmarried.

His description on his enlistment papers describes him as 5'5 ft 1/4" inches, 136 lbs, with a chest measurement of 31.5 and 3/4 inches, Dark complexion, Grey eyes with Black hair and Presbyterian.

James description " Enlisted Febuary 28th 1915 and was vaccinated same day after through medical examination an was granted leave of absence until 2nd March 1915.  2nd March reported at Victoria Barracks Sydney one number fortailed about 600 strong. We were lined up formed into sections of four and march of to the railway station and entrained for Liverpool camp.  After alot of josling etc we got to camp and were greeted by those already in cap as marmalades.  This being the name given to new recruits, we were fitted up with blue dungaree overalls and white caps and heavy tan boots, and resemble and inmae of assylum or prison, rather than that of a soldier.  We were alloted to tents 12 to 14 being a tent full, clerks, navvies etc were all treated a like, no respect for class, rough and mild all the same.  Thats the make up of the army.

Through the remainder of the months and up to the middle of June was given to good solid training in all it's branches that is required to make the soldier physical drill, rifle and bayonet drill and exercises, route marches trench digging, shooting and general infantry manourveres in the whold, the work was rather interesting even though fatiguing, our stay in camp was not by any means a dull one, entertainments ere on every night for those that wre confined to camp.  the only real hitch we has was when the heavy rain came and flooded the camp.  The food ration was good and plenty, but towards June we began to get discontented, same routine day after day, began to bore me, I wanted to get away and when the day came, we were as happy as kings are thought!".

James was a lad, he loved to drink, party, gamble, womanise and loved practical jokes and making a win where he could.  He was a perpetual optimist, always looking for excitment and ways he could spin a dollar.

On the 25th June, 18th Battalion embarked for Eygpt, Jame's account is as follows.......

"25th June 1915, date of departure for active service.  Revell sounded at 5am, this was the signal to rise , dress, wash and get ready for breakfast.  Everybody was up and at it, burining all rubbish etc, cleaning up the lines, and striking tens ready for inspection.  After everything was clean enough to satisfy our officer, whe had breakfast.  There over hauled our equipmet so that no delay would be cause when the fall in sounded.  Everybody is in high spiritis and greatly excited knowing that the long expected move had come.  The fall in is sounded and every man is ready fully equiped and his white calico sea bag in his hand, after a lot of roll call and checking by the officers, we move off to Liverpool station, cheered all the way by our comrades who we were leaving behind.  We entrained at Sydney station at 9:30am, all the way down there was cheering and cock-a-doodle-doo, all kins of weird noises as a salute.

We detrained and formed in line at Sydney station and made our way to Woollomooloo where ferry boats awaited and conveyed to the transport ship SS Ceramic......at 4:45pm the anchor raised and we steam down the hour, fine rain starts to fall and we were all on deck, getting my last glimpse of Sydney and just before turning the heads, the Manly ferry shrieked out the last Cock-a-doodle-doo and so farewell to Sydney for a time, Perhaps forever!!

The bugle sounded for tea and there was a rush, we were feeling very hungry, noting to eat since early morning, our meal consisted of bread and jame, biscuts and butter, cheese and tea, still it was appreciated after that was finished all up on deck again to look at the lights along the coast, at 8pm, hammocks were swung.  This causes a lot of sport, something new sleeping in a hammock, it took some time to get properly settled, and it was by no means safe to get into your hammock, if you did it was only for a moment, for out you would come, regardless of broken necks etc, untill 9pm when all was quite  and everybody settled for the night."

The Journey was rough and a large percent of the men were sea sick, they were trying to pass the time away.  James comes up with a cunning plan to make some money......

29th June 1915

" Jim Focus and myself open up a hairdressing saloo, braber ship consists of soap boy with 4x 2 up, 3 x 1 cross piece, the roughest thing you ever saw.  Haircut 4 shillings and shave 3 shillings.  The boys named us Solomon Ikey and Mo.  We had a tin of pepper handy in case we cut any one, the pepper being splendid stuff to stop the bleeding.

30th June 1915

"Still raining as usual, Dave Clifford and myself are elected mess orderlies for the trip, and each man agrees to pay us 7 shillings each per week.  There are 17 men at the table and all sports!  Barber shop doing a trade tonight orders are out that every must shaved before morning parade".

18th Battalion AIF Eygpt 1915.

 The SS Ceramic embarked in the Suez Canal Egypt. Egypt was the training ground for the Australian and New Zealander, but there other Allies training in Egypt which included,British, French, Zouves, Foreign Legionnaires from Africa, Ghurkhas, Sikhs, British Raj, Levantines, Jews and Greeks.  But the ANZACS were the unkown force, as they were not yet proven in battle and without history.  The ANZACS were wild, independent of spirit and lacked discipline and respect for the British Hierarchy, none of this wild behaviour had ever been witnessed or seen in the history of European battles.  These ANZACS were different from allied forces, they were tall, tanned, muscular, and weathered from the outdoor living, including a strange, harsh and outspoken voice and attitude.  The ANZACS only listended and respected their own commanding officers, and looked down on the upper class backgrounds of the European classes.

The training was hot, thirsty, sweaty and physically enduring as the intense heat from the searing sun in the desert turned the men frustrated and mad.  The same routine over and over again, were making James bored and mad.

The ANZACS would visit Cairo for recreation, and James was envolved and witnessed the 2nd Wazir riots, 31st July 1915, backing up his mates and brothers in arms, where some of the local prositutes had robbed ANZACS, a large crowd had gathered, and it was on for young and old.  Brothels and buildings were burned to the ground, furniture and belongings thrown out of buildings, prostitues were injured, local men were thrown out of windows, and the streets were a blaze of fire.

18th Battalion were in training from Mid June to Mid August, and finally landed on Gallipoli on 22nd August 1915, in the middle of the night.  18th Battalion were comitted to the major assault n a small knoll of the battle of Hill 60.  It was a low rise of a place in the foothills, and obscured with a heavy fog, as the day progressed bad scrub fires were a blaze, the intenisty of the heat from the fires, and filling the air with acrid smoke, heavy shell fire making fighting conditions murderous.

James writes...

22nd August 1915

4am we are marching around to the firing line, fully equiped, one man carries a shovel and his mate a pick.  Just breaking day when we to to the ridge.  A lot of dead turks lying around in New Zealanders uniform, stretcher bearers were bringing back the wounded.  Turks spot us and open fire on us, every man dropped flat until the fire ceased.  Then the signal came to rush to small shallow trench, about 150 yds in front of us.  We got there safe and had to crawl or rather drag our selves along and down the slope, several of our men were hit there, Ernest Nunn was hit through the wind pipe and killed our first real casuality, we got to the top of trench with only a few casualties and remained there about 20 min and then got the order to charge where to non one knew.  Over we went and were mown down like weeds.  A shell burnt and caught Lieut Donaldson in the breast, Capt Lane was along side of him and picked up Lt Donaldson in his arm and held him up and gave him a drink. Pulled out his revolver and emptied into the turks, then laid Donaldson down and picked up a rifle and let go at the Turks for all he was wirth, Capt Lane was already wounded in the Knee.  I bayoneted and wounded turks and I was shot in the hand, our casualities were very heavy 50%, then some one shouted retire and we did, I remember no more,  I was hit in the head and came to my senses at Embros Island on the 26th August 1915.

That night of the 26th August brought little respite to 18th battalion as they withdrew from the shallow line front trenches, and their numbers greatly decreased, with Jame's own platoon dwindling from 60 down to 17 men.

James was wounds were extensive, he sustained a GSW to the hand, GSW to the arm, and the back of his head was hit from schrapnelle.  Jame's laid unconcious in no mans land for 2 days before stretchers bearers found him.  He was shipped off to Embros, and was put on board the hospital ship Assage and left for Alexandria where his wounds were dressed for the first time since wounded.  The delay in the wounds being treated was owing to the casualties sustained and medical staff overworked and overburden by the massive volume of casualities.

James was operated on, and received a metal plate in the back of his scull, with GSWounds cleaned and dressed and was then shipped of to England.

James resumed active duty again 4th January 1916, where he was again draughted and vaccinated and sent back to Eygpt to join the 18th battalion for further training.

on the 10th march 1916, Jame's volunteered to join the Lewis Machine Guns in 18th Battalion, and underwent intensive training.

On the 18th March 1916, the 18th battalion was embarking for Marsielles the western front France, and on his way aboad the SS Alunia, Jame's contracted typhoid fever.

Marsielles health authorities were concerned with the possibitly of ANZAC troops from Egypt bringing infectious diseases into France.  Australian troops were vacinated with TAB vaccines which were compulsory for Australian troops.  British troops however were not given such liberties, and adversely were open to disease.

18th battalion arrived in Marseilles, and were entrained to Thiennes around a 600 mile journey.  First class carriages for officers, and 3rd class for all other ranks.  Troops looked for to the continual stops for refuelling, and were welcomed by the locals passionatley yelling " Vive L'Austalie! The reputation for the ANZACS  were formidable through out France.  The French were aware of the ANZAC exploits in Gallipoli and their resistant and fierce fighting spirits.  At each stop locals rolled out in the hundreds to greet the ANZACS, greeting and flourishing them with flowers, cheers,kisses and wine.  The French considered them to be the finest fighters of the entire war.  James was in his element, beautiful women, culture and he was able to practice his language skills. James was fluent in 5 different languages, French, Italian, Greek, Aramaic, Indian.  So his time off in Furlow was looking to be promising.

the 18th battalion arrived at the quiet Armentieres, it was a posting known for being the nursery sector, it was used for training, lectures. It was a transitional posting for the ANZACS, as it was a different battle to the battle they faced in Gallipoli, new trench warfare. Built roads, railways, laid complex underground cabling, fixed the positions of machine guns, heavy guns including howitzers.

18th Battalion were billeted out, James found himself in a barn of a farm house.  James account....

29th March 1916

Arrived at Thiennes and marched of to our billets which are composed of stable and barns, and plenty of fleas for company. Had a taste of French wine went for a walk through village.  It is iteresting to note tha 90% of the graves here bear the crucifix. Christ nailed to the cross.

30th March 1916

Went to quartermasters stores for machine guns, 4 mile route march this afternoon, also issued with PH Gas helmets. We can just faintly hear the guns, the have been going  for a long time, must be heavy bombardment going on toward Armentiers. We are about 14 miles from trenches in direct line as the crow flies. Weather is very cold but find our beds are cpmposed of straw. Cannot hlep noticing the fact that all eligible men are at the front. Only old men, women and children left.

7th April

Rovelle 7am today with busted feet after yesterdays march. Pack guns away ready to move for firing line. Blankets in bundles of 10 and load them onto waggons. Fall in with full pack, move off at 9am, arrive at Hazelbursk at 11am. General Joffre took the salute through the village, had 20 mins rest and thee move of and arrive at Messis at 3:30pm, landed feet sore and tired, went down flemish party's house and had a few dinks there. People warned us to be careful owing to a lot of German spies about.  They also told us how the Germans treated them. They took everything and paid for noting, the people I billeted with charged me 1d for shaving water, I think German blood reigns there.

News leaked to 18th Battalion of the murderous battle of Fromelles which crippled 5th divsion, at this time James was fighting at Pozieres Moquet farm only just a short distance from Fromelle.  James was firing on the enemy, Adolph Hitler only metres apart, in a bloody fight for survival.

James account....

"Fritz shells the keep, very heavy at intervals, Ray Runkin and myslef were burried alive 4 times in half a day.  Fritz is making it hot in the keep, there are 2 machine crews, and 60 men with rifles. Casualities are getting heavy, nearly half wiped out with shell fire and cant get our own back. We sent a note down to head quarters explaiiing the situation and also that the casualities were heavy. Reply came back to hold onto the last man, and this we did, until early next morning when there was only tow of us left. Jack Edwards and myself."

German batteries rained exploding shells, earth sploiding and coming down like heaving dumpings of dirt, dead bodies, body parts, schrapnelle, wire and toxic gas, burying all and everyone in site.

General Gough congratulated 2nd Division, 18th Battalion for the inflicted severe defeat on the enemy but the cost of human life was astronomical. Between 23 July and 7th Bugust 1916, 18th battalion, 5th brigade lost:

22 Officers

603 ranks

Total overall for 5th Brigade was:

77 Officers

1967 other ranks

james waslucky to be alive, even though he had become wonded. James Account.....

" We brought out our 2 guns and left the ammunition there.  Returned back to support line,  dead tired, sick, sore and sorry. Capt Keppell gave me a good issue of rum,and I went to sleep for the rest of the day. Had tea at 5pm and moved up ready for going over the top, we are in the front line ready to hop over. Orders came to get out into no mans land and line up, this was given us, and we got the signal to advance to the first German line, which we did, but me no resitance, the artillery flattened the 1st line, and it was difficult to find the 1st time, the 2nd line we did a bit of boxing and the Huns did not stop to argue, the counter attached 5 times during the night and moving but were driven off each time. I got hit with a piece of shell in the wrist and went to dressing sttion at sausage gully, Pozieries, and I was sent by ambulance to Rouen by train and stopped in hospital until the 20th August and left hospital and went to Espalle and remained there until January 1917.

Baupaume 1917

Baupaume the battle of the Hindenburg Line

25th Febuary 1917

In shell hole guarding Baupaume rd, fritzs shells us very heavy and we had to rush from shell hole to shell hole to sap across no mans land under fire, I had a marvellous escape, I helped a wounded stretcher bearer into safety, and was both as close to being killed as ever I wish to be.

27th Febuary 1917

At 3am I went with Capt O'Donell to sap opposite strong point held by the huns. Remained of company came around later, and at 5:30am we attacked the strong point and captured it, and follwed up to embankment on th main road to Bapaume, and took up position on the road. We open fire on huns retreating, and account for 52 of them, fritz threw up his hands but we took no risk of being caught in a tra. It's rumoured that I am to be recommended a military medal.

The Battle of Passchendaele - Third Ypres

This battle wasto secure the Belguim coast, and to capture the German submarine bases on the Belgium coast.

James account...

2nd May 1917

"Breakfast 11am take guns to headquarters to go through instructions to re attack. It is agreed that we make the attack in 8 waves. At 6pm we move to B coy billets ready to move up for the attack. Left billets at midnight for the front line. We marched straight out into no mans land and lined up in our respective waves. The barrage started and so die we. Fritz's machine gun and artillery were terrific.the workst I have experienced as yet. We got to the German front line when someone shouted to retire. This order broke the formation up. We stopped but took up position in a shell hole in frit's wire, but eventially we had to retire back to the sunken roadk this was 5am on 3rd.

3rd May 1917

"We lined the sucken road at 8:30am and officers called to us to have another go, but the men did not feel inclined to make a 2nd attempt. In all events it is foolish to make the attempt, but we have no choice where duty is concerned. This particular officer tried to organise for the 2nd attack, but it was fruitless, I got my guns, crews together, what was left of them and I asked them if they would follow me and they agreed to do so, so I hopped the parapet and the gunners followed this was done partly to encourage the rest, off we went and the bullets poured like hail stones. I did not reckon on getting through that, but we got to the German wire again and I was left there single handed for all my crew were casualties, my best gunner was killed, his last words to me were " this is where we get our VC", just as he got the words out his mouth, a bullet struck him through the brain, he was the lst of my crew. I rested in a shell hole to consider what was the best thing to do, the rest of the men were disorganised and scattered in two's and threes's everywhere in shell holes. One of my battalion lads came across and helped with my gun and ammunition and decided to go back to the sunken road where the rest of the battalion, we had to move from shell hole to shell hole and evry move we made we received a shower of schrapnel, but eventually got back to safey to the sunken road.

4th May 1917

" Our battalion moved around to the 6th brigade's postion and dug in and strengthened the postion, we then oved back to our old position at 3am and was told our battalion had been relieved and had moved out. So I made a bed and Fritz spotted me and put a few whiz bangs after me, making things very lively, I reached the dressing station and had a cup of teas which was very acceptable. I then moved off to Vaulx but could find no trace of the battalion, so I went to the old billets and found a few of our boys, so we decided to stop there until night. We went to sleep on the bare floor and slept till 4:30pm, we had something to eat and drink and then, I reported to Head quarters and waited until 8pm and moved to cook hous at the old trenches about 5 miles back and had cocoa and stew, then moved off with a party of  arrived at Bevilliers, arriving at camp at 3am and turned in dead beat and slept till 12pm next day.

James continued through the 18th battalion battles, fighting illness, fatigue, and continued trench feet problems.

In September 1918, James was promoted to Sergeant and was given a commission in England as an instructor at The School of Musketry at Tidworth where he continued November 1918.

James returned home in January 1919, with his new wife to Australia.

He had 2 sons, both signed up for active service in WW2.

After the war, he got a job as a sanipan man, a travelling salesman, selling barbering supplies and tobacco, and a night watchman on the Sydney wharves.

He worked as a night watch man until the age of 76 years, he apply for a repatriation war pension due to ill health, bad feet and war injuries, but was sadly only awarded it 3 months before his death.

He became vice president of the Bondi Junction RSL.

James never marched on ANZAC day, and his saying was "war should never be celebrated".

He died from emphysema, smoking from which he took up while fighting in the Somme, as he quoted "smoking filled the nose with the smell of smoke, instead of the smell of rotting flesh" is buried at Botany cemetary in Sydney.