James Barkla ROACH MM

Badge Number: S2500, Sub Branch: Pt Lincoln
S2500

ROACH, James Barkla

Service Numbers: 5851, S85049
Enlisted: 6 April 1916, Kadina, South Australia
Last Rank: Lance Sergeant
Last Unit: 7th (SA) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
Born: Moonta, South Australia, 25 March 1896
Home Town: Moonta, Copper Coast, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Clerk
Died: Natural Causes (Cancer), Port Lincoln, South Australia, 8 February 1970, aged 73 years
Cemetery: Happy Valley Cemetery, Port Lincoln
RSL Section
Memorials: Moonta Corporation of The Town of Moonta Roll of Honour, Moonta Mines Male Voice Choir Roll of Honour
Show Relationships

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Thomas Ninnes ROACH and Clara nee BARKLA

Brothers: 615 Lce.-Cpl. Jacob Roach (/explore/people/59951) (returned and discharged 20 Aug 1919) and  5850 Douglas Peter Roach (/explore/people/342348) (died of wounds 05 Jul 1918 - Rouen, France)

"Pte. James Roach, of the 43rd Battalion, has been awarded tHe Military Medal. He is the son of Mrs. T. N. Roach, of Moonta, and prior to enlisting was a member of the Wallaroo Mines pay office staff. He is well known and popular at Moonta and Wallaroo mines. His two brothers, Ptes. Jacob and Douglas, are members of the same battalion." - from the Adelaide Register 04 Feb 1918 (nla.gov.au)

"Signaller JAMES BARKLA ROACH, third son of Mrs. T. N. Roach, of Moonta, has been awarded tha Military Medal for conspicuous Bravery whilst carrying dispatches under heavy shellfire. He was decorated by General Birdwood. Signaller Roach is a member of the 43rd Battalion, and two brothers, Jacob and Douglas Roach, are attached to the same battalion." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 23 Feb 1918 (nla.gov.au)

Read more...