James Norman CASH

CASH, James Norman

Service Number: 31923
Enlisted: 18 August 1916
Last Rank: Second Lieutenant
Last Unit: Australian Flying Corps (AFC)
Born: Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, 2 March 1896
Home Town: Chinchilla, Western Downs, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Stockman
Died: Killed In Action, France, 6 January 1918, aged 21 years
Cemetery: Sailly-Labourse Communal Cemetery Extension
Row E, Grave 6
Memorials: Esk War Memorial, Richmond University of Western Sydney WW1 Memorial
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World War 1 Service

18 Aug 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 31923, 13th Field Artillery Brigade
10 Feb 1917: Involvement Gunner, 31923, 13th Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
10 Feb 1917: Embarked Gunner, 31923, 13th Field Artillery Brigade, RMS Osterley, Sydney
6 Jan 1918: Involvement Second Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-01-06

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

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.

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