S6803
MACE, James Joseph
| Service Number: | 9641 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Broken Hill, New South Wales , date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Birkenhead, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Gilles Street Primary School |
| Occupation: | Tailor |
| Died: | 30 July 1956, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Australian Harbours Board WW1 Roll of Honour, Adelaide Commissioner of Public Works Roll of Honour, Adelaide Gilles Street Primary School WW1 Honour Roll (New) |
World War 1 Service
| 31 May 1916: | Involvement Sapper, 9641, 11th Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1916: | Embarked Sapper, 9641, 11th Field Company Engineers, HMAT Suevic, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 9641, 11th Field Company Engineers | |
| Date unknown: | Honoured Military Medal |
Help us honour James Joseph Mace's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed
Submitted by St Dominic's Priory School
James Joseph Mace was born in 1891 in Broken Hill, New South Wales. He grew up in Australia at a time when the nation was still shaping its identity, and later made his home in Birkenhead, a suburb of Port Adelaide in South Australia. Before the war he lived an ordinary life, building his future like many young men of his generation.
James Mace entered military service on 4th March 1916, stepping away from his occupation as a tailor to serve his country. At the age of 25 years and 4 months he was a married to Margaret Mace.
His attestation papers state that James stood at five feet six inches tall and weighed 154 pounds. His chest measured between 34½ and 39½ inches, and his medical inspection recorded a fresh complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. Several small distinctive marks were noted on his body, as was routine for identification purposes. He listed his religion as Roman Catholic.
On 31 May 1916, he embarked from Adelaide on HMAT Suevic (A29) as a Sapper, No. 9641, 11th Field Company Engineers. At this time, he was most often ranked as a private or sapper, meaning he was a military engineer and one of the lowest-ranking soldiers in the infantry.
Then alongside many other soldiers, he proceeded to France where the conflict was most fierce. His unit placement included him being in the 11th Field Company Australian Engineers. These engineers managed a broad range of tasks divided into the subtopics of mobility, counter-mobility, and construction. Further tasks included survey and mapping as well as specialised tunnelling and mining operations. More specific duties involved helping to build and reinforce defensive positions, digging trenches and shelters, and setting up wire and other barriers. They also prepared command posts, handled signalling and water supply, and worked on roads and bridges to keep routes open. When needed, they cleared obstacles and created ways for troops to cross them.
In February 1918, he was awarded the Distinguished Military Medal by the Australian Imperial Force. A joyful letter announcing the award, was sent to his wife, Margaret. He received this honour for his conspicuous services rendered as an “undermentioned soldier” in the Australian Imperial Force, and the award was approved by His Majesty himself for his bravery on the field. This recognition additionally moved his rank up to Corporal, which, in World War I, was a senior non-commissioned officer typically leading an infantry section of around ten soldiers. This rank was one step above a Private and was a position of leadership and responsibility, often earned through previous service, specialist skills, or training, while a Corporal held the command of a section.
At the end of the war, James returned to Australia on the 10th of May 1919 to his family. He and Margaret had 4 children Jim, Ken, Ellen and Ernest. James’s son Ernest Charles served with the Royal Australian Navy in WW2 service number PA3829
James Joseph had died on 30th of July 1956 aged 64 years. James, his wife Margaretha, and their son Ken were all buried together at Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia. Many honour boards and memorials across Adelaide continue to recognise his contribution today, including those at AMOSA Keswick Barracks on ANZAC Highway, the Gilles Street honour board, and the large wooden honour board in the Torrens Building, Victoria Square, opened on 27 May 1919 by Viscountess Jellicoe. These memorials, inscribed with tributes such as “HE DIED THE NOBLEST DEATH A MAN CAN DIE” and “DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI,” preserve the names of those who enlisted for service in the Australian Imperial Forces, ensuring that his dedication and the honour of his awards remain recognised to this day and do not go unnoticed.