Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James was working as a Jackaroo on a property in Central Qld when he enlisted on 18 August 1916 in the 13th Field Artillery Brigade. He became a Gunner in September 1916, then a Provisional Sergeant that October. James arrived in England during April 1917.
James transferred to the Australian Flying Corps late June 1917. Having qualified as a pilot, James was commissioned, Second Lieutenant, on 10 October. James proceeded to France (by air) on 15 December 1917 and served with 71 Squadron Australian Flying Corps.

He was killed in an aircraft accident on 6 January 1918 when flying Sopwith Camel B2474 as part of a five aeroplane flight on a familiarisation mission on the Allied side of the Lines. At about 1000 feet over Vermelles the two rearmost machines, flown by Second Lieutenant A.M. Anderson, and Second Lieutenant R.H. Curtis, collided, and then fell on James’ Sopwith Camel. All three Camels then fell on a slag heap between Béthune and Vermelles, killing all three airmen.

# 31923 CASH James Norman            Australian Flying Corps
 
James Cash was born the only son of James and Mary Cash in the Northern English City of Newcastle on Tyne on 2ndMarch 1896. James’ father was probably a successful business man or lawyer. Young James attended a preparatory school before enrolling at Wellingborough School in Northamptonshire. Wellingborough was one of the oldest public schools in England, established in the 16th century and prided itself in producing young men of standing and letters. Perhaps young James was not prepared for the future his parents had planned for him and at the age of 17 he embarked for Australia.
 
In the three years between James’ arrival in Queensland and his enlistment, he managed to find employment in the pastoral industry as a stockman which is perhaps how his name came to be listed on the Esk War Memorial. He also worked on “The Auburn” station near Chinchilla. James attended the Brisbane Recruiting Depot on 18th August 1916. He stated his age as 20 years and five months and occupation as stockman. James named his father of Willesden Avenue, London, as his next of kin.
 
James was accepted into the AIF and went into a depot battalion at Enoggera prior to being drafted into the 10threinforcements of the 13th Field Artillery Brigade. The gunners travelled to Sydney to embark on the “Osterly” on the 10th February 1917. The troop ship had to sail from Fremantle to South Africa to restock the coal bunkers and then out into the Atlantic with another coaling at Freetown, Sierra Leone, all in order to avoid the shipping lanes where submarines lurked. During the voyage, James was charged with being on a deck of the “Osterly” to which he was not permitted access. Perhaps he had forgotten that he was no longer a privileged Englishman. The voyage lasted two months and upon arrival in Plymouth on 11th April, the reinforcements were sent to the 3rd Division Training Battalion at Larkhill. Training continued and no doubt James took the opportunity to travel up to London to see his parents.
 
On 27th June, following a telephone call from AIF Headquarters, Private James Cash was ordered to report the 30thTraining Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It is undeniable that James would have presented as an ideal candidate for the RFC. He had attended the right sort of school and came from a well connected family. Additionally, James’ past as a stockman was evidence that he was a good horseman. The RFC favoured cavalry officers as pilots on the ill founded belief that a horseman showed the necessary balance required for flying. It would seem quite unlikely that James’ acceptance into the RFC had not been in some way influenced by James’ father’s connections in the city of London.
 
James progressed through two training squadrons before passing his pilot’s exam on 10th October 1917. According to the rules of the RFC, all pilots at that time were officers and James progressed from the rank of private to 2ndLieutenant in less than four months. As an officer, James had to purchase his own uniform and there were several tailors in London who specialised in officer outfitting. On 6th November, James was posted to the 71st Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps which was stationed at Castle Bromwich near Birmingham. Flying training continued and included gunnery, navigation and formation flying. More than half of the pilots trained during the first world war would be killed in flying accidents.
 
71 Squadron was equipped with Sopwith Camel single seater fighters. The Camel was the latest version of fighter to come out of the Sopwith workshops. It climbed rapidly and was highly manoeuvrable. However, the aeroplane had a number of design faults which made it difficult for beginner pilots to fly. Because the engine, cockpit and fuel tank were crammed in to a short stubby nose section, the aircraft had a tendency to tip forward when landing. The 9 cylinders of the Clerget Radial engine rotated with the propellor, creating a gyroscopic effect that could put the aircraft into a spin. The engine was lubricated with castor oil, which was superior to mineral oil in that it did not dissolve in petrol, but an unintended consequence of castor oil was the laxative effect on pilots. Even experienced pilots said of the Camel, you would earn a Victoria Cross, a Red Cross, or a wooden cross.
 
The pilots of 71 Squadron were despatched to France on 15th December 1917. The squadron flight log records short training flights and formation flying for most of the month. On 6th January, a three way collision between 2nd Lieutenants Curtis, Cash and Anderson during a formation flight resulted in the three pilots being killed when the entangled aircraft crashed to ground. James was buried in the Sailly La Bourse British Cemetery. His father chose the following inscription for James’ headstone; THE ONLY AND BELOVED SON OF JAMES AND MARY CASH BORN MARCH 2nd 1896.