SAPPER PERCIVAL MARCUS JAMES
5112 – 1st Tunnelling Company / Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Richmond, Victoria was the birthplace of Percival Marcus James on February 21, 1888 the son of Jack Harry and Elizabeth Jane (nee Gribble) James.
At the Recruiting Depot in Perth, Western Australia on November 30, 1915 the twenty-seven year old electrical engineer applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination Attestation Forms were completed which reveal he was 174cms (5ft 8½ins) tall, weighed 66.3kgs (146lbs) with a chest measurement of 89-94cms (35-37ins). Complexion was fresh with blue eyes and dark brown hair. Religious faith was Methodist and nominated his father Jack Harry James of Leake Street, Cottesloe, W.A. as next-of-kin. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Enlistment’ the same day.
Basic training commenced at the Miners’ Unit on December 7, 1915 and was allotted to the No. 3 Company until May 10, 1916 when he was sent for further instruction at their Reinforcements training camp in Seymour, Victoria. His rank was Sapper with the regimental number 5112. On July 18, 1916 he was assigned to the 2nd Reinforcements to the Mining Corps.
Sapper James was one of 79 Reinforcements departing on HMAT A26 Armadale from Port Melbourne, Victoria on July 19, 1916. On August 1, 1916 he was appointed Lance Corporal. Durban, South Africa was reached on August 15, 1916 and leave was granted from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and they departed the next day. Arrived at Cape Town a few days later on August 20, 1916 and a Route March lasting three hours kept them fit before enjoying leave until 11 p.m. The ship was scheduled to leave at 2 p.m. but cancelled and left the following day at 5 p.m. The quality of liquor in town was considered bad. A one day stopover to refuel at Port le Grand, St Vincent was the last harbour visited on September 8, 1916. After a 64 day voyage the ship arrived at Devonport, England on September 20, 1916. The troops were detrained to Tidworth Station for further training for the front at Nos 1 & 3 camps at Parkhouse.
On New Year’s Day, 1917 the Reinforcement proceeded to France from Folkstone on board the transport S.S. Arundel arriving at the Aust General Base Depot the next day.
He was assigned on January 12, 1917 to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion which was an advanced section of the Base Depot that organised works near the lines and through duties, usually of ten days duration, would accustom the reinforcements to war conditions before being assigned to a company in the field. Lance Corporal was taken on strength with the 1st Tunnelling Company on January 27, 1917.
His civil qualifications of Electrical Engineer were more beneficial to the work of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company therefore was attached to the company on February 17, 1917. On May 5, 1918 he reverted to the rank of Sapper when taken on strength with the company and paid to that date in France.
Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for serving twelve months service abroad.
He went sick on May 15, 1918 to the 1st Casualty Clearing Station and admitted with N.Y.D. (not diagnosed yet) Pyrexia (fever) and discharged to his unit on May 28, 1918.
Service continued without incident and was with his unit when Peace was declared. The Company remained on the front continuing to generate electricity and service and supply small engines and pumps for water supplies for those rehabilitating their districts.
Leave was granted from December 11 and returned on December 25, 1918.
Orders were received to prepare for demobilisation on March 8, 1919 and return to the Aust Infantry Base Depot. Crossed the English Channel to England on March 17 arriving at the No. 2 Training Brigade at Codford on March 18, 1919.
After demobilisation he embarked from England on June 6, 1919 on the H.T. Somali. Base Records advised his father on June 19 that he was on his way home. The ship docked in Fremantle, W.A. (5th M.D.) on July 8, 1919. Their arrival was reported in the following:
Military Discharge was issued in Perth, W.A. (5th M.D.) on August 22, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
He married Bernice Mildred Allitt.
Their residence from 1930 onward was listed as 10 Bokhara Street, Caulfield with the occupation of electrician.
His wife’s father passed away with the family announcement printed in:
Percival James was one of the executor’s of his father-in-law’s Will with Legal Notices appearing in:
Percival Marcus James passed away aged 77 years on April 14, 1965 in Heidelberg, Victoria.
His wife Mildred lived to be 96 years of age and died in 1985 at Brighton, Victoria,
© Donna Baldey 2013
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