James Rae

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sun, 21/08/2016 - 12:17

First Name:

James

Last Name:

Rae

Mother's Name:

Effie Rae nee McGarry

Father's Name:

Andrew Rae

Date Enlisted:

Tuesday, November 16, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Corporal

Unit:

Australian Army Medical Corps

Awards:

British War Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, November 19, 1934

Place of Death:

Cessnock, N.S.W.

Details:

James Rae (Service No 5894) was born in Balgownie, N.S.W. in 1900.

At enlistment James claimed to be single, a butcher, and 18 years of age when in fact he was no older than 16. A permissaion note from James' parents is among James papers and he served with his father, Andrew (Service No 5893) in Australia and England. James also claimed to have served in the Cadets and Militia.

Like his father, James was a member of the Camp Band with whom he played the cornet.

He appears to have embarked from Sydney with his father, on HMAT A40 Ceramic with the 16th Reinforcements, 20th Battalion on 7th October 1916.

James saw service in England and was posted to the Medical Corps.

He returned to Australia as a Corporal in January 1919 and was discharged on 1st April 1919.

In 1920 he married Doris Butler at Rockdale, Sydney, and they had 3 children.

James died at the age of 34 at Cessnock. His service is commemorated on the Balgownie War Memorial 1914-1918.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, RAE JAMES