Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Contributed by Robert Scott – May 2018

James Valentine Batson volunteered to serve in the South African War or as it was more commonly called, the 2nd Boer War. He was born at Selwyn near Tumbarumba, New South Wales in mid-1873, possibly August and he was the son of William and Bridget Batson. As with most Boer War Veterans at that time, little is known of James background. He may have possibly lived in or around the Albury area in the late 1890’s to 1900 as James’s two sons recorded their “places of birth” as Albury on their “1st AIF Enlistment Forms”.

However, what we do know of James is that he would have been twenty-seven years old when he volunteered for military service in South Africa. Also, records show he was employed as a labourer, he was just on six feet tall and had a fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. He had a chest measurement of around 40 inches and weighed around 190 lbs. Unlike most Boer War Volunteers, James was married with two sons when he enlisted. One of the criteria for service in the 2nd Boer War was that all Volunteer Enlisted men must be single. James obviously did not disclose his marital status when he enlisted.

James joined “A” Squadron of the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles as a Trooper and his service number was 2060. Training for the contingent took place in early 1901. “A” Squadron sailed for South Africa on the 21th March 1901, accompanied by the Regimental staff and “C” & “E” Squadrons, 3rd N.S.W. Mounted Rifles aboard the “SS British Prince”. The Units disembarked at Durbin, South Africa on the 17th and 23rd April 1901.

From the 3rd May 1901 until the 28th April 1902, James and his Squadron were attached to British Colonel Remington’s column which served in the Eastern Transvaal and the Eastern Orange Free State as this was where the main military action was taking place at that time. The tactics had, by now, changed primarily to that of Guerrilla Warfare. Both the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles and the defending Boers were well suited to this form of combat. These Guerrilla manoeuvres included many “Drives” (military sweeps) with the principle engagements being:
• The “Harrismith Drive” which took place in the early part of 1901 and resulted in the capture of 251 prisoners, 26,000 cattle and 2,000 horses;
• Participation in the Boer Breakout at “Langverwacht” which occurred in February 1902.

On the 4th May 1902, Trooper Batson and “A” Squadron, 3rd New South Wales Rifles embarked at Cape Town for Australia aboard “RMS Aurania”. The Squadron reached Sydney on the 3rd June 1902, after stopping at Albany, Adelaide and Melbourne.

After being discharged from the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles, little is known of James from 1902 until his death with the exception that his wife, Fairley (Pearly - nee Webster) died in 1903, shortly after his return from the Boer War. At age 42 years & 7 months, he enlisted in the 1st A.I.F. on the 14th March 1916, at Tumbarumba, along with his two sons, Reginald Charles and Eric George Batson. He joined “C” Company - 1st Battalion, as a Private - Service No. 6131 and served on the Western Front in France. Private Batson returned to Australia on the 7th July 1918 and was discharged on the 7th August 1918 as medically unfit. Records indicate that James Batson was living at Holbrook, N.S.W. in 1923.

James Batson was admitted to “The Ovens Benevolent Home” in Beechworth on the 24th October 1952 and his prior address was recorded as Manus Creek N.S.W. His occupation was that of a Farm Hand. He died on the 3rd July 1954 in that institution and was buried in the Beechworth Cemetery on the 6th July 1954, aged 81 years. He is buried in a single grave in Roman Catholic Section C – Plot 389. The grave was unmarked which would indicate that he was possibly buried as a pauper. However, with the assistance of his relatives, a full military grave has been constructed for him. His name is featured on the “1914 – 1918 Tumbarumba N.S.W. Roll of Honour” and also the Tumbarumba “Monument to Boer War Survivors”.

Medals

Queens South Africa Medals with five Clasps:
• South Africa – 1902
• South Africa – 1901
• Transvaal
• Orange Free State
• Cape Colony

James was the fourth of eight children of William Batson (born 1843 in Yass, NSW) and Bridget Josephine Wales (nee Murphy (born 1837 in Collector, NSW). William (a Labourer) and Bridget (a Midwife) lived together from about 1864 in Binalong, NSW. They later settled at Albury, NSW.

James was a Labourer when he married Fairley Webster (born 1868 in Albury, NSW) in Indi, Victoria. The couple moved back to Albury, NSW where their son was born, and in 1901 James enlisted with the 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles (Service No:2060) fought in South Africa until his Discharge in July 1902. 

Returning to Albury, NSW James worked as a Labourer. Following Fairley's death in 1903 James relocated to Tintaldra, Indi, Victoria where he was a Labourer. James enlisted in the AIF in March 1916 and served as a Private (Service No:6131) with 1st Infantry Battalion A Coy in France. He was Discharged in August 1918. Both sons enlisted in the AIF - Reginald Charles (Private, Service No:5969) served with the 32nd Infantry Battalion and youngest son Eric George, of 1st Infantry Battalion A Coy died of Diptheria at Liverpool Filed Hospital shortly after enlisting in 1916.

James settled at Tintaldra and worked as a Dairyman before relocating to Garryowen at Holbrook in NSW in 1930 where he was a Farmer. In 1952 he had moved back to Indi, Victoria where he died at Beechworth in 1954.