MYERS, James Edward
| Service Number: | 2459 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Elliston, South Australia, 22 May 1895 |
| Home Town: | Cowell, Franklin Harbour, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Station Hand |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 11 April 1917, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers Bretonneux, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cowell Men from Franklin Harbour WW1 Roll of Honour, Cowell War Memorial, Elliston War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2459, 48th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2459, 48th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Adelaide | |
| 10 Feb 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2459, 48th Infantry Battalion, Served with his brother, William (Bill) Myers. Involved in the plan to assault Bullecourt. 10 April 1917-After preparing to attack, laying on frozen ground during a bitterly cold night of wind, sleet and snow - the troops departed only to be ordered back to attack the following morning. At 4.30am, just four tanks arrived and the advance began. By 7am the Australians were holding part of the Hindenburg Line but they were exposed as the tanks had been abandoned, resulting in a dangerous gap in the Allies' lines. German counter attacks overwhelmed the Australians and soon a desperate retreat began. The 48th Battalion held on as long as possible; it was well into the eighth hour of enemy fire when those that were able, got back to their embankment. (Anzac Portal - 1917 Bapaume and Bullecourt). |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Colleen Peters
Born in Elliston, James Edward Myers ('Jim' to his mates) worked on a farm between Bramfield and Elliston - 'Nationdale' prior to World War 1.
He enlisted with his brother William Robert Myers in Cowell on 22 July 1916. On his papers he stated '3 months training with the Cowell Rifle Club'.
Both Myers brothers fought on the Western Front and were with the 48th Battalion during the charge at Bullecourt on April 11 1917, where James Myers was Killed In Action (National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch - Myers, JE p. 26). His mother (Mary Ann Myers) wrote to the War Department and Red Cross regularly, in search of information about her son. His death was confirmed with her in April, 1918.
The following eye witness accounts were given during Myers' final moments:
Private Lock: 'I knew JE Myers. I saw him in a small trench, near Bullecourt on 11 April just before the Germans counter-attacked. I saw that he had a bullet wound on him and I offered to bandage him up but he said it would be very awkward to get at the wound. He complained that he was cold so I covered him up with some over-coats I picked up. When I got back to our line I told the stretcher bearers about him but I do not think they could get to Myers, owing to the counter attack. Myers was dangerously wounded'.
Private Bowden: 'I saw Private Jim Myers lying very badly wounded and in a dying condition (shot through the back) in a gap between our lines and the Germans at Bullecourt on April 11 1917, daylight about 9am. I saw one of our boys put a blanket on him. We lost the ground shortly after and left the wounded behind. He had a brother in the same Battalion; his name was Bill; he was with the unit when I left'.
J Crabb stated: 'I saw him killed by a machine gun shell and drop dead instantly, through his chest at Bullecourt. I think he would be buried. One of the best and one of the bravest. A big chap and came from South Australia'.
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