| Name |
James Albert Witham |
| Born |
1892 |
Omeo, Victoria, Australia  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Military Service |
22 Feb 1915 |
Omeo, Victoria, Australia |
Address:
Sturt Street Depot |
- Serviceman 4208A, James signed up and was enlisted in 5th Depot Regiment, "Q" Company. At the beginning of 1916, he was transferred to 5th Division Ammunition Column to be appointed as Driver on 16 May 1916. He was transferred into the Theatre of War in France in August 1916. On 24 April 1918, James was wounded whilst transporting Ammunition. Major-General JT Hobbs (Commanding 5th Australian Division), made the following commendation:
..."At 3.15p.m. on 24th April 1918, Dvr WITHAM was lead driver of a team comprising a portion of a convoy carting ammunition to the 55th Bty., A.F.A. when passing along a sunken road nearing the BONNAY cross Rds, the convoy came under very heavy shell fire, killing two complete teams and wounding all the drivers.
Dvr WITHAM, although himself wounded, immediately picked himself up and went to the assistance of the other drivers.
Although the shell fire was particularly heavy and concentrated on this one point, this Dvr with utter disregard of personal danger, extricated from amongst the dying mules, one of the other drivers who was badly wounded, and still under heavy shell fire carried him 200 yds. to a sap where his wound could be dressed. His coolness under fire and his disregard of personal danger, although wounded, set a very high example of courage and devotion to duty."
For his actions on that day, James was recommended for an immediate Honour, the Military Medal.
This, and the rest of James' Military Record, can be found at the National Archives of Australia.
|
| Died |
1959 |
Beaconsfield, Victoria, Australia |
| Siblings |
6 siblings |
| + | 1. John David George Witham
b. 1891, Omeo, Victoria, Australia
d. 1955, Yarragon, Victoria, Australia (Age 64 years)
| | | 2. Robert Percival Witham
b. 1894, Omeo, Victoria, Australia
d. 25 Apr 1915, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey (Age 21 years) | | + | 3. Samuel Arthur Witham
b. 1896
d. 1950, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Age 54 years)
| | + | 4. Walter Leslie Witham
b. 1898, Omeo, Victoria, Australia
d. 1976, Malvern, Victoria, Australia (Age 78 years)
|  | 5. Matilda Irene Witham
b. 27 Jan 1903, Cassilis, Victoria, Australia
d. 2003, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Age 99 years)
| | 6. Roy Morrison Witham
b. 1908, Tongio West, Victoria, Australia
d. 1959, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Age 51 years)
|
|
| Person ID |
I6492 |
Mitchell Families |
| Last Modified |
28 May 2008 |
1892 - 1959 (67 years)
Has 12 ancestors and 7 descendants in our family tree.
1896 - 1965 (69 years)
John Witham (ID:I1949)
