Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

MAGEE, James Thomas (known as Thomas Magee)

Military Medal

Military Medal Recommendation-

‘During operations at Westhoek on 4/10/17. Enemy shell caused a fire in a dump which rapidly spread owing to high wind - the flames preventing egress from several dug-outs in vicinity. This N.C.O. together with two others, although H.E. shell was in imminent danger of being encircled by the flames, showed great courage and coolness and methodically got the fire under. Had the shell exploded, men in the dug-outs near by would have been buried alive and the Battery position destroyed. This N.C.O. in consequence received slight burns.’

The Bendigo Advertiser reported on November 13, 1918 DEATH OF AN ANZAC - Sergeant J. T. MAGEE. M.M.

Official notice has been received of the death of Sergeant J.T Magee, M.M, 22nd Battalion, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Magee of Woodstock on-Loddon. The deceased was one of the first Victorian volunteers enlisting from St. Kilda in August 1914 and left with the First Australian Division. He was at the landing and evacuation of Gallipoli and fought in Belgium and went to fight in France. He was slightly gassed in October 1917. He was returning home when he took ill in England and died from influenza and pneumonia on 25th October[1]

The Bendigo Independent proudly announced on Dec 14, 1914: - WOODSTOCK VOLUNTEERS.

About 300 people assembled at Cr. Ferguson's barn to honor, the Woodstock boys, five of whom, Messrs. T. Magee, A. Brown, W. Hamilton, T. Hamilton and S. Spencer, volunteered for the war’.[2]

James Magee (known locally as Thomas) would miss the farewell as he had already left with the first contingent.

Thomas was one of the few AIF soldiers who survived the eight long hellishing months, thirty-five weeks from the landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25 to the evacuation of all Allied forces on the evening of December 19.

Thomas along with his fellow survivors arrived back in Alexandria, Egypt on Boxing Day 1915. As part of the AIF reorganisation, James would be transferred to a number of different Artillery and Ammunition brigades over the next three months before leaving for France on April 1st, 1916. 

In 1917, Thomas was a Bombardier with the 101st Australian (Howitzer) Battery when in October he and two other Bombardiers, 162 Howard Cleary and 10329 Arthur Courtney would undertake their brave deeds to save the men in the dug out and Battery position.

A month later Thomas was wounded (gassed) in the November and evacuated back to England for treatment. He would gain promotion for his actions whilst recovering and be awarded the medal on November 20, 1917. He would not return to the front until March 1918. He would be promoted to Sergeant and serve through till August when he is granted Special Leave to return to Australia as a ‘1914 man’. 

He would disembark in Southampton on October 14, 1918 and die just ten days later in Plymouth.

His parents received by mail Thomas’s Military Medal on May 23, 1919. The Defence Department offered Mr & Mrs Magee the opportunity to have the medal presented publicly, however, sadly Thomas’s mother wrote to the Base Records that his father was still living however too old and sick to accept a public presentation of his medal as offered by the Department.

SERVICE DETAILS: 

Regimental No. 1444

Place of birth: Bendigo

Religion: Church of England

Occupation: Driver

Address: Woodstock-on-Loddon via Bendigo

Marital status: Single

Age at enlistment: 25

Next of kin: J. Magee, Mother – Mary. Woodstock-on-Loddon

Enlistment date: 20 August 1914

Place of enlistment: St Kilda, Victoria

Rank on enlistment: Driver

Unit name: Field Artillery Brigade 2, Brigade Ammunition Column & 1st Field Artillery Brigade

Embarked: HMAT A27 Southern on 20 October 1914

Final Rank: Sergeant

Fate: Died of disease 25 October 1918, influenza and pneumonia.

Place of death: England, Age 30

Place of burial: Efford Cemetery, Plymouth, Devonshire"

Medal Source: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette                 

2 May 1918 on page 1037 at position 23

Westhoek (Broodseinde) on 4/10/17 - The attack commenced at 6am October 4, 1917 after rain commenced falling the day before. Coincidentally, the Germans planned an attack for exactly the same time. At 5.20am the German artillery opened up and then at 6am the Australian artillery started, both in preparation for impending attacks. After both troops emerged from their trenches to commence attacking to their surprise they found the enemy doing exactly the same. The Australians managed to recover from the shock quicker than their opponents as the Australian machine gunners opened up and cut the German lines to pieces. The Germans broke and the Australians managed to capture the ridge. The triumph at Broodseinde presented the Allied High Command with an opportunity, perhaps in the upcoming spring, of breaking the German hold. The German tactic of immediate counter attacks had proved ineffective since the British never pushed beyond the range of their guns.

In all the fighting in the 3rd Battle of Ypres, in and around Passchendaele the 3 Australian divisions lost 6,500 men which represented 20% of its operational strength. It is believed that the Germans lost 25,000 men and 5,000 prisoners. The German High Command officially recorded October 4, 1917 as a "Black Day". Fresh German troops were put in the line opposite the Anzac troops on October 5 despite Haig's attempts to break the German lines.[3]

[1] The Bendigo Advertiser, Wed 13 Nov 1918  Page 6
[2] The Bendigo Independent, December 14, 1914  Page 5
[3] Australian Battlefields of World War 1 – France  http://www.anzacsinfrance.com/1917/

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in UK & Ireland”

James Thomas Magee was born at Bendigo, Victoria in 1888 to parents James and Mary Magee (nee Slattery).

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 20th August, 1914 as a 26 year old, single, Driver (listed on Roll of Honour as Farmer & Blacksmith) from Woodstock-on-Loddon, via Bendigo, Victoria 

Driver Thomas Magee (name as per Embarkation Roll), Service number 1444, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Shropshire (A9) on 20th October, 1914 (Casualty Form – Active Service in the Service Record file recorded he embarked on 21st October, 1914) with the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade – Brigade Ammunition Column.

On 4th April, 1915 Driver Magee joined M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force).

He was taken on strength of Howitzer Battery from 2nd Brigade Ammunition Column on 15th July, 1915 at Gallipoli Peninsula.

Driver Thomas Magee disembarked at Alexandria on 26th December, 1915 from Gallipoli Peninsula from Troopship Caledonia. (after the evacuation of Gallipoli)

On 9th February, 1916 Driver Magee was transferred to 2nd Field Artillery Brigade & was attached to 2nd B.A.C. (Brigade Ammunition Column) on 11th February, 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir.

He was admitted to No. 2 Stationary Hospital at Tel-el-Kebir on 19th February, 1916 with Mumps.

Driver Magee was transferred to No. 4 Divisional Artillery on 27th February, 1916. He was taken on strength of 21st Howitzer Brigade & posted to 101st Battery on 6th March, 1916.

On 25th March, 1916 Driver Magee proceeded to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) from Alexandria & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 1st April, 1916.

He was taken on strength of 1st Brigade in France on 15th May, 1916, having been transferred from 21st Howitzer.

Driver Thomas Magee was promoted to Temporary Bombardier on 24th February, 1917, vice Josephson. His temporary promotion was confirmed the same day.

On 3rd July, 1917 Temporary Bombardier Magee was promoted to Temporary Corporal vice Josephson to Hospital.

He reverted to sub rank of Bombardier on 4th September, 1917, vice Eagle taken on strength.

Bombardier Thomas Magee was promoted to Temporary Corporal on 30th September, 1917, vice Wilkinson Killed in action. He was then promoted to Corporal the same day.

Three Soldiers from 1st Australian Field Artillery, 1st Australian Division, 1st Anzac Corps – Bombardier Wyn Howard Cleary, Bombardier James Thomas Magee & Bombardier Arthur Clarence Courtney were recommended for the Military Medal  on 5th October, 1917 “During operations at Westhoek on 4th October 1917. Enemy shell caused a fire in a dump which rapidly spread owing to high wind – the flames preventing egress from several dugouts in vicinity. These  N.C.O.’s (although H.E. shell was in imminent danger of being encircled by the flames) showed great courage and coolness and methodically got the fire under. Had the shell exploded, men in the dugouts near by would have been buried alive and the battery position destroyed. These N.C.O. s received slight burns in consequence.”

On 23rd October, 1917 Corporal Magee was promoted to Temporary Sergeant, vice Weingott evacuated wounded.

Temporary Sergeant Thomas Magee was wounded in action – Gassed in Belgium on 3rd November, 1917. He was admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance on 3rd November, 1917 then transferred & admitted to 17th Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Temporary Sergeant Thomas Magee reverted to the sub rank of Corporal on evacuation to Hospital wounded on 3rd November, 1917. Corporal Magee was transferred to Ambulance Train 25 on 4th November, 1917 & admitted to 15th Australian General Hospital at Abbeville, France on 5th November, 1917. He was marked for transfer to England on 10th November, 1917 & embarked for England on Hospital Ship Ville de Liege on 11th November, 1917.

Temporary Corporal James Thomas Magee, 101st Australian (Howitzer) Battery was awarded the Military Medal. (London Gazette – 17 December, 1917 – page 13199 & Commonwealth of Australia Gazette – 2 May, 1918 – page 1037)

He was admitted to 1st Eastern General Hospital at Cambridge, England on 11th November, 1917 (listed on Hospital Admission form as Woburn Military Hospital)  – Gassed slight. Corporal Magee was discharged to furlo from 30th November, 1917 & was to then report to No. Command Depot at Sutton Veny.

On 15th December, 1917 Corporal Magee was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England from furlo. He was medically classified as B1 A3 (fit for overseas training camp in 2 to 3 weeks).

Corporal Magee was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire on 20th February, 1918 He had been fitted with a “partial upper” & was dentally fit as of 20th February, 1918. He was marched in to R.B.A.A. (Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery) at Heytesbury, Wiltshire on 1st March, 1918.

He proceeded overseas to France from Heytesbury via Southampton on 7th March, 1918 & was marched in to A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Rouelles, France on 8th March, 1918. Corporal Magee was marched out from A.G.B.D. on 11th March, 1918 for 1st Divisional Artillery. He rejoined his Unit from wounded on 13th March, 1918.

On 12th March, 1918 Corporal Magee was promoted to Temporary Sergeant, vice Weingott evacuated sick.

Temporary Sergeant Thomas Magee was promoted to Sergeant on 7th May, 1918 vice Cater reverted.

Sergeant Thomas Magee was sent to No. 2 Army Rest Camp on 16th July, 1918 from 1st Field Artillery Brigade & rejoined his Unit on 2nd August, 1918.

He embarked from Havre, France on 13th October, 1918 for Australia. Sergeant Magee disembarked at Southampton with “B” Draft on 14th October, 1918 & was marched in to St. Budeaux R.T.A. Special leave 1914. (Returned to Australia) 

On 19th October, 1918 Sergeant Magee was admitted to Ford House, 4th Southern General Hospital, England with Influenza.

Sergeant James Thomas Magee died at 22.00 hrs on 25th October, 1918 at 4th Southern General Hospital (Ford House Section), Plymouth, England from Influenza & Pneumonia.

He was buried on 31st October, 1918 in Eggbucklands Cemetery, Plymouth, Devon, England (as per details in his Service Record file).  This is now recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as Efford Cemetery, Plymouth, Devon, England – Plot number R.C. C.3616 and he has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

Mary Magee, Woodstock-on-Loddon, via Bendigo, Victoria , mother of the late Sergeant James Thomas Magee, wrote to base Records in June, 1919 stating she had received a package of the effects of her son but expected him to have much more property. She also requested to have his Gas Helmet and Field Glasses as there were “Returned Anzacs here and they have theirs. It may be Government property, but after all my dear son did for King and Country it is not too much to ask besides I have not claimed a Pension. My reason for asking for these are that there is not anything in the Package that could be kept as a war relic in remembrance of him.” 

Base Records replied stating that  no other personnel effects had been received but on several occasions more than one packages has been received in connection with the same member of the A.I.F. Base Records also stated that the gas helmet and field glasses would not be returned as they were part of the military equipment and property of the Government & would be returned to the Ordnance Store for re-issue.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/g---m.html