Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Horam was born in England and came to Australia in around 1909. He was one of three brothers who died during the Great War. His two younger brothers both died serving with the British Army on the Western Front. 2562 Private Alfred Horam King's (Liverpool) Regiment, was killed in France on 2 August 1916 aged 38, only two weeks before James was listed as missing near Mouquet Farm. Another brother, 201695 Private Charles Horam 1/4th Loyal North Lancs, also died in Belgium on 23 February 1917, age 35.

James Horam settled in Ipswich, Queensland when he first came to Australia. He became quite well known there and built and owned the Lyric Picture Palace in Ipswich in prewar years. He moved to Lidcombe with his family and continued his building and contracting business. He was a married man with four children and his wife operated a small store in the Sydney suburb of Berala.

He enlisted at over 40 years of age in the 13th Battalion and was reported as wounded and missing near Mouquet Farm on 14 August 1916.

The fact that he was missing caused his wife much anguish as reported in the Cumberland Argus during 1917, under the heading ‘Another Blunder.’ “Mrs. Horam, who keeps a small store opposite Berala railway station, is passing through a very trying ordeal owing to her inability to obtain news from the military authorities regarding the present whereabouts of her husband. Ho belonged to A Company of the 13th Battalion, and had been fighting in France since April last. Sho received word from official sources on 12th August that he had been wounded. Tho next news she received was that he was wounded and missing on 19th July. This was further corrected by another message received on 13th September announcing that he was wounded and missing on 14th August. Afterwards Mrs. Horam received letters from him dated 19th and 20th July, in which he stated he was in good health. Tho last piece of news received from him personally was per medium of a field card dated 4th August, which conveyed the information that he was quite well. She has not heard from him in any way since that time, and though she has written to the military authorities and Senator Pearce, and made inquiries through the Red Cross and cabled to relatives in England, she has not been able to glean the slightest information. On 30th November Senator Pearce wrote stating that inquiries would be made, but nothing further has been received from that source. The poor woman, who has four young children, is naturally much upset. She fears the worst has befallen her husband, as he was regular in. writing, and it is over five months since he last wrote.”

His remains were never found and he is remembered on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial.