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James was born on 31 March 1889 at Port Lincoln to Abraham Schramm and Catherine Schramm (nee Simes). He was the sixth eldest of 14 children in the family, 10 boys and 4 girls.  His father was a farmer at White’s River.

James went to school at White’s River, commencing in 1896.   He completed his schooling at end of year 7 and worked on the family farm and other farms in the area until his enlistment in 1916.  At the time of enlistment he listed his occupation as “farmer”.

After enlistment he was sent to Mitcham for processing before joining 2nd Depot Battalion (Bn) for basic training.  On completion of training he was allocated to 18th Reinforcements/10th Bn and entrained for Melbourne where he embarked aboard HMAT “Barambah” bound for UK, arriving on 26 August 1916.  He was then posted to 3rd Training Bn for further training before joining his unit (10th Bn) in France on 14 October 1916.  This was probably an unfortunate time to join the Bn, as at this time it was deployed to Belgium during one of the coldest winters on record. It is little wonder that in early 1917 he was admitted to hospital with Bronchitis, where he remained for a few weeks before rejoining his unit.

The Bn was redeployed to the Somme, near Le Barque, in early February 1917.  During this period it was back to hospital for James as a result of being wounded in action (WIA) with a gunshot wound to his right leg.  He was evacuated back to UK aboard the Hospital Ship (HS) “Minmora” and admitted to Reading War Hospital on 8 March 1917, where he remained for about 3 months.

In Juyl 1917 he rejoined his unit in France, but this was only a short stay, as he was again wounded in action, this time in the shoulder.  The Bn had returned to Belgium to take part in the major British offensive of that year - the Third Battle of Ypres, one of the bloodiest actions of the war. It was during this action that he was wounded; and again evacuated to the UK, this time to 2nd Southern General Hospital at Bristol.  On Christmas day 1917 he was released from hospital and rejoined his unit on 26 December 1917 in France at a time when it was involved in the battles for Polygon Wood and Broodseinde Ridge.

In March and April 1918 the 10th Bn deployed to Hollebeke (Belgium) where it helped stop the German spring offensive; it was then involved in operations leading to the Allied counter offensive. James must have been an above average soldier as he was promoted to Lance Corporal in Jun 1918 and 3 months later to Corporal.

The Bn participated in the great allied offensive of 1918, fighting near Amiens on 8 August 1918. This advance by Commonwealth troops was the greatest success in a single day on the Western Front, one that German General Erich Ludendorff described as “the black day of the German Army in this war”.  The Bn continued operations until late September 1918, when it was eventually withdrawn from the front line. It was still in reserve when the Armistice was declared on 11 November 1918. On 5 Sep 1919, the final detachment of the 10th Bn arrived back in Adelaide, aboard HMAT “Takada”; James was part of this final detachment.  He took his discharge in Adelaide on 2 November 1919 and returned to Tumby Bay.

On return home James began a courtship of Florence Coad; one which must have been successful as they were married at Lipson on 26 November 1921.  The couple had no children, but they did “adopt” a young lad.

They also bought a farm in the hundred of Moody, immediately adjacent to the present day Ungarra sports ground.  In fact he gave the land to the community for the building of the sports ground.  This was possibly helped by the fact that he was a good sportsman, having played Football for White’s River and later Ungarra.

James was a very community minded person; He served on the Tumby Bay Council for a total of 38 years, 30 years as the Chairman of the Council.  He was also the Chairman of the Ungarra School Committee for 33 years and a founding member of the Tumby Bay RSL.

James died on 7 Nov 1966 and is buried at Lipson.  His wife died on 5 Jan 1969 and is buried beside him.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 - 1954) Tuesday 1 January 1952

Mr. James Kintore Schramm, O.B.E., has been chairman of Tumby Bay District Council since 1934 and a member for 26 years of both the council and of the Board of Management of Tumby Bay Hospital. He has filled many other local government offices with distinction.

Mr. Schramm has been president of the Eyre Pen insula Local Government Association since 1944 and a delegate to the association for 20 years.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47390939

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 1 JANUARY, 1952

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD.

St. James's Palace, S.W.I.

1st January, 1952.

The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotion in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: — To be Ordinary Commanders of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order :—

James Kintore SCHRAMM, Esq., Chairman of the District Council of Tumby Bay, State of South Australia

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39421/supplement/24/data.pdf