ANZAC Heroes | Great War 1914 – 1918

Bunbury – Wellington District Western Australia

McALPINE, James Henry

McALPINE, James Henry

Full Name: James Henry

McALPINE

Date of Birth: 05

–

1885

Place of birth: Lionville VIC

Australia

Occupation: Sleeper Hewer

Address: Saw Mills Barrabup WA

Next of Kin: Father- James McALPINE, Mother- Sarah Jane McALPINE, Wife- Jessie Clara McALPINE

Next of Kin Address: Saw Mills Barrabup WA

Religion: Presbyterean

Service Number: 6068

Rank: Private

Unit/Division: 16th Battalion

Enlistment Date: 1916-03-15

Enlistment Location: Blackboy Hill

WA

Embarkation Port:

Embarkation Date: 1916-08-09

Embarkation Ship:

Disembarkation Port:

Disembarkation Date: 1916-09-25

Locations Served:

,

Returned: No

Discharge Date:

Cause of Death: Killed in Action

Date of Death:

Place of Death: Bullecourt,France

Age at Death: 34

Burial Location: Inscription Villers-Brettoneux Memorial France.

8/03/1916- Completed Application for Enlistment & Preliminary Medical Examination Bunbury WA
15/03/1916- To 55 Depot Blackboy Hill WA as Private
12/04/1916- Allotted to 19th Reinforcements 16th Battalion Blackboy Hill
9/08/1916- Embarked Fremantle WA aboard ” Miltiades ” bound for England
25/09/1916- Disembarked Plymouth ex Australia to Training Battalion
12/12/1916- Proceeded Overseas 4th Australian Division Base Depot Etaples France ex Folkestone
19/12/1916- Taken on Strength 16th Battalion in the field France
11/04/1917- Reported Missing in Action France
30/10/1917- Court of Enquiry found soldier to have been Killed in Action France.

 

REPORTS OF SOLDIER’S DEATH

Informant – WALTERS, Pte. J.W.E. 1876 – 16th Battalion ” D ” Company AIF  ” At Bullecourt on 11th April 1917, McALPINE was killed outright in enemy’s first line trench, hit by machine gun bullet in body. I saw his body in the trench. We were taken Prisoners of War half an hour later “.

Informant – SKIPWORTH,  H, 6086- 16th Battalion ” D ” Company AIF – ” I saw him lying on the parapet of the first line German trench. I was within a couple of feet of him in the trench and am quite certain he was dead, though I do not know how or where he was wounded. He was in my Platoon 14. D Company. His name was Jim. He was a general Timber Worker and his trade was timber hewing in South West of Western Australia. I have heard him speak of his wife. I met him first in camp in Western Australia and we left together, in 19th Reinforcements to 16th Battalion on ” Miltiades” on 9 August 1916 “.

Informant – BROWN, Pte. J – 16th Battalion AIF – ” I saw him killed by a shell in a charge at Bullecourt on the morning of 11th April, shortly after 6.00 am. He was killed about 300 or 400 yards  from the hopping off trench and as far as I know was never buried.  Cannot remember names  of men who were killed by same shell. I used to work with him on a sawmill at Barrabup in W.A.  He was medium, stout build, dark and had a moustache.  The ground was not held permanently “.

 

SERVICE MEDALS AWARDED

British War Medal – No. 44543

Victory Medal – No. 44040

Memorial Plaque/Scroll – No. 338248.

 

MEMORIAL INSCRIPTIONS

Nannup War Memorial WA

Australian War Memorial Canberra ACT – Panel No. 80

Villers-Brettoneux Memorial France.