10633
MCMAHON, James
| Service Number: | 3738 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Hindmarsh West, South Australia, 16 July 1882 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Boiler Makers Asst |
| Died: | Hindmarsh, South Australia, 27 October 1953, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (General) Catholic Old Area, Grid E8, Site Number 19 |
| Memorials: | Rosewater Marist Brothers Port Adelaide Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 3738, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Malwa embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 3738, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), RMS Malwa, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Trevor Pyatt
Biography of James McMahon (1882–1953)
Early Life
James McMahon was born on 16 July 1882 at Hindmarsh West, South Australia, the son of Malachy McMahon and Mary Mackey. He grew up in the working-class district of Hindmarsh, where Irish Catholic families like the McMahons were long established. Before enlisting for war service, James worked as a boilermaker’s assistant.
Marriage and Family
On 24 November 1915, at St Saviour’s Catholic Church, Brompton, James married Alice Eileen Gubbins (c.1882–1951), daughter of James Hughes Gubbins and Johanna Foley. James was about to depart on overseas service with the AIF at the time of the marriage.
Together they had two children:
Robert Emmett McMahon, born 29 January 1919 at Southwark.
Veronica McMahon, born 10 December 1920 at Southwark.
The McMahons were lifelong residents of Hindmarsh, deeply connected to their Catholic parish and local community.
Military Service – First World War
James enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 25 August 1915 at Adelaide, aged 32. He was allocated to the 16th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement with the rank of Private (Service No. 3738).
Embarkation: Sailed from Adelaide aboard RMS Malwa on 2 December 1915.
Egypt, 1916: Hospitalised in Cairo with mild Nile fever in February 1916, returned to duty in March.
England, 1916–1917: Fell ill with diphtheria in November 1916 and later developed chronic myalgia (muscular pain/weakness), requiring extended stays in English hospitals and convalescent depots.
Unable to return to the front, James was repatriated:
Returned to Australia: 10 September 1917 aboard HMAT Ulysses.
Discharged: 4 February 1918 at Adelaide, medically unfit.
He received the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal for his service. His conduct was exemplary — no offences were recorded during his military career.
Later Life
After the war, James returned to Hindmarsh. Like many returned soldiers discharged medically unfit, he and his wife received a small war pension to support their household. Despite the toll of his wartime illnesses, James lived a long life in Hindmarsh.
Alice died at Hindmarsh on 18 March 1951, aged 68. James survived her by two years, passing away on 27 October 1953 at Hindmarsh, aged 71.
Legacy
James McMahon’s name is commemorated on the Rosewater Marist Brothers Port Adelaide Roll of Honour. Though his time at the front was cut short by illness, his service reflects the resilience and quiet sacrifice of older volunteers who answered Australia’s call during the Great War. He is remembered as a devoted husband, father, and a man who carried the burden of his service long after the fighting ended.
Biography by Trevor Pyatt 18/08/2025