MAHER, James
| Service Number: | 4847 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 September 1915, Dubbo, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Gilgandra, New South Wales, Australia, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Gilgandra, Gilgandra, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | 25 March 1957, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales R.C. Mortuary 2; Sect. 15 Plot 131 |
| Memorials: | Gilgandra Coo-ee March Gallery |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4847, 13th Infantry Battalion, Dubbo, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 4847, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 4847, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Sydney |
Jim Maher
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4847), James Maher was born at Gilgandra, N.S.W. He gave his age as 18 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as farm labourer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 7 inches, weight 136 lbs., with a medium complexion, grey eyes, and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed to have 7 months previous experience with the Gilgandra Rifle Club. He completed his medical, and was attested, on the 14th October 1915 at Dubbo, which was the day the Co-ees left Dubbo on the Coo-ee March.
His official date of joining the AIF in his service record is the 14th October 1915. James “Jim” Maher is however known as one of the 35 recruits from Gilgandra – one of those who caught up along the way.
There is an ‘Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force’ document in his military service record which is signed by both his father John Maher, and his mother Georgina Ellen Maher, giving parental permission for him to join, as he was under the age of 21.
It is unclear whether he left Dubbo with the Coo-ees, or did not catch up with the Coo-ees until further down the march route, as per family stories he did not join the march until Wallerawang
After completing the march he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Springfield, Gilgandra, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his father, J. Maher, Springfield, Gilgandra, N.S.W.
Along with many of the Coo-ees, Private Maher departed Sydney on the HMAT Star of England on the 8th March 1916. He arrived in Egypt on the 11th April 1916. On the 20th May 1916 he was transferred to the 45th Battalion.
On the 7th June 1916 Private Maher left Alexandria aboard the Transport Kinafanus Castle bound for France, arriving at Marseille on the 14th of June 1916.
On the 4th January 1917 Private Maher was appointed Lance Corporal, when the Battalion was at Dernacourt, France.
On the 25th February 1917 the Battalion was being relieved from the front line near Guedecourt. Lance Corporal Maher was one of 10 members of the Battalion wounded this day, with another 5 men were killed. Lance Corporal Maher received gunshot wounds to his buttock and ankle. He was hospitalised and evacuated to England.
On the 16th December 1917 Lance Corporal Maher began his return to Australia, departing England on board the Hospital Ship No 2. He arrived in Australia on the 16th February 1917, and was discharged on the 10th July 1918.
Submitted 30 March 2015 by Danny Maher
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of John Maher, Springfield, Gilgandra, New South Wales
James joined the Coo-ee March on passing his medical examination in Dubbo on October 14, 1915. After training at Liverpool, he embarked for Egypt on the HMAT Star of England on March 8, 1916. After training in Egypt, James transferred to the 45th Battalion, arriving in France at the Western Front in June 1916 to face Pozieres and Mouquet Farm as part of The Battle of the Somme in August 1916. James was wounded in action and admitted to hospital in February 1917 with a severe gunshot wound to the chest and ankle. James was transferred through the Casualty Clearing Station in the field, the 36th General Hospital in Etaples, the Military Hospital in Chatham then to Harefield Hospital where William Hitchen had died in 1916. He returned to Australia on the hospital ship Kanowna and was discharged on July 10, 1918.
He received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. James died on March 25, 1957 aged 59.
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