Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur James enlisted at Wentworth NSW on 16 October 1915 into the 8th Battalion. He served in a number of units such as the 1st Anzac Cyclist Battalion, 8th Battalion and the 2nd Division Light Trench Mortar Battery. His headstone indicates that he may have been in the Light Trench Mortar Battery at the time of his death but letters in his file after his death also lead us to think he may have been in the 8th Infantry Battalion at the time. He arrived in Marseilles in March 1916 and travelled by train to the northwest of France. In April he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia and didn’t fully recover and joined the 8th Battalion in September that year. He then transferred to the 2nd Brigade Trench Mortar Battery on 26 January 1917. The 2nd Brigade diary for 2 February reads, “Nothing of note during the night – work was carried on. A normal day, enemy shelling scattered over all the area – not heavy. Enemy aeroplanes apparently ‘contact’ planes very active.” Perhaps it was the enemy shelling that killed him? He was taken wounded to the 45th CCS with 2 broken legs and injuries to the left hand and foot and died later that day.
While coping with her grief, his mother wrote this letter to the 3rd Military District…
“Dear Sir, I have your letter of 1st inst. For which I thank you. Before my son left for the front he wrote to me telling me that he had made his Will, leaving everything to me, and I should be glad to know if you have any record of that Will or with whom he left it. I also ask you to hold all payment due to my son until the Will is produced. He, I believe, gave the name of his father, George James, as next-of-kin, but I would point out that my husband and I parted over eleven (11) years ago, and during that time neither myself or the children have received any support from him. I have had to keep the children myself and must therefore ask you to hold all money due to my son until I can find who holds his Will and the contents of same. Awaiting the favor of a reply, Yours faithfully, M.A. James.”