HOME, 2nd Lieutenant James

2nd Lieutenant James Home

4^th Battalion AIF

by Robert Simpson

James Home was born on 19^th April 1884 in Bellstone, Durisdeer, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, a son to George Home and Elizabeth M Geddes. They had been married on 20^th March 1873 in Bellstane Cottage, Durisdeer, Dumfriesshire. James was one of eight children they had from 1873 to 1892, with only one dying in infancy. He was the fifth child and second son. George had been born in 1850 in Cutler, Lanarkshire, and Elizabeth had been born in 1855 in Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. By 1871 George had moved to Dumfriesshire, was boarding in Dumfries and was working as a forester. In the 1881 Census they were living in Bellstane, Durisdeer and he was still a forester. By the 1891 Census the family had moved to Newmill on Teviot, Hawick Roxburghshire, and George was still a forester. After the birth of their youngest child and daughter in May 1892, Elizabeth passed away on 3^rd June 1892. In the 1901 Census they were still in Newmill and George had become the Head Wood Forester. In the 1891 Census, James was a scholar and by the 1901 Census, he had moved to Selkirk at Shielshaugh his occupation was kennel man.

James, seeing some of his brothers in the army, signed up to join the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on 25^th November 1904 in Edinburgh. It was for short service, 9 years with the Colours and 3 years with the Reserves. As a Private he was given the service number 9565. His attestation form stated he was born in the parish of Thornhill, near the town of Dumfries in the County of Dumfries. He was aged 20 years and 7 months and was a gamekeeper. James had not been an apprentice, was not married, had never been sent to prison and had not served before. His physical description was height 6 foot 1.75 inches tall, weighed 169 pounds, a chest measurement of 38 to 41 inches, of fresh complexion with hazel eyes and brown hair. His religion was Presbyterian. James had a scar on the corner of his right eye, his left forefinger and the back of his head. From his medical examination he was considered fit with and addition, “if supplied with artificial dentures”. He was approved on the 26^th. James was posted to the A&SH Depot as a Private on 2^nd December 1904. From there he was posted to the 1^st Battalion on 15^th April 1905. He was then appointed a Lance Corporal on 5^th August 1905 and was granted an increase in pay from 21^st October, which was back-dated to the 5^th as a correction. On 16^th October 1908 he was promoted to Corporal and on 7^th September 1909 he was appointed as Lance Sergeant. At his own request, on the payment of 25 pounds he was discharged under the Kings Regulations on 11^th January 1911 as a Lance Sergeant. He had served for 6 years and 48 days. His military history sheet reads that he was Home from 25^th November 1904 to 14^th September 1909 (4 years 294 days) and then in Malta from 15^th September 1909 until 11^th January 1910 (1 year 119 days). It probably should read to 11^th January 1911. His certificates of education read as 3^rd Class on 15^th December 1904, 2^nd Class on 13^th February 1905 and Group II 1^st Class on 22^nd March 1910.

In the line of name and address of next of kin is written his father George of Newmill on Teviot, Harwick; older brother William late of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (1^st) and younger brother John of the 1^st Gordon Highlanders. William had also previously served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, (originally as a Private 6956 and then promoted to Corporal and appointed Lance Sergeant on the same day), from 17^th January 1900 until 29^th November 1900, including time in South Africa from February until November. He was discharged before completion of engagement for demobilisation of South African Field Force. He also served in WW1 with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as a Captain and then the 1^st Garrison Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders as a Captain and then Major and then he served in India. John joined the Gordon’s in the 1^st Battalion as Private 8763 on 27^th October 1902 for 5 years army service and 9 years in the reserves. He was with the 3^rd Battalion in 1912 and up until 26^th October 1915 when he was discharged at the completion of his term.

Why James asked for a discharge is not known. There are listings in British and Australian records for a James Home, departing from London on the Themistocles on 16^th February 1911 (born about 1885 and listed as a carpenter in 3^rd class) and arriving in Sydney on 28^th March 1911 (listed as a farmer in 3^rd class) but it cannot be confirmed that he is the same James, although it certainly is in the right time frame.

Sometime after arriving in Sydney, James joined the Police Force with the number 9372. On 23^rd February 1912 he was a Probationary Constable and was made an Ordinary Constable on 23^rd February 1913. He was with the foot police. His physical description was 6 foot 1.75 inches tall, weighed 14 stone on joining, grey eyes, dark hair and complexion. He was from Scotland and in the married or single entry is a D? His previous calling was gamekeeper and Highlander (presumably a reference to his time in the A&SH). Religion was listed as Presbyterian. He was sent to Metropolitan District from 25^th March 1912 until 4^th May 1913 after being at the Eastern Depot from 23^rd February to 25^th March 1912. He was then posted to Western District at Dubbo from 5^th May 1913 until 2^nd August 1913 and then Coonamble from 2^nd August 1913. The New South Wales Police Gazette of 3^rd April 1912 listed him under Probationary Constables as “Home James No. 9372. February 23”.

James wasted little time in enlisting, joining up on 18^th August 1914 as Private 245 with F Company of the 4^th Battalion. His attestation paper stated he was born in the parish of Durisdeen near the town of Thornhill in the Count of Dumfriesshire. He was a natural born British subject, of 30 years old and a Police Constable. He had not been an apprentice, nor had he been married. His next of kin was his father, George Home, of Newmill-on-Teviot by Harwick, Scotland. He had not been convicted nor discharged from His Majesty’s Services. When asked for previous service all he put was “His Majesty’s Army voluntary resignation”. He had stated his whole previous service and was never rejected as unfit. On 21^st August Major MacNaughten certified the paper and took his oath in Sydney. His physical description was age of 30 years, height 6 foot 1.75 inches, weight 12 stone 13 pounds, chest measurement of 37 to 40 inches, of dark complexion with grey eyes and dark hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian. The only distinctive mark he had was a scar on his left index finger. After having a medical examination he was declared fit for service on 26^th August.

His statement of service has him with the 4^th Infantry Battalion on 18^th August 1914 as Private 245. He was quickly promoted to Colour Sergeant of F Company on 19^th October and then he was appointed Company Sergeant Major of C Company 4^th Battalion on 1^st January 1915. His terms of service was until 4 months after the end of the war. The 4^th Battalion was raised as part of the 1^st Brigade early during the war in August 1914 and embarked on 20^th October 1914 on HMAT Euripides A14 from Sydney. Recruits were from New South Wales. They had a brief stop in Albany and arrived in Egypt on 2^nd December 1914. He embarked to join the M.E.F. (Gallipoli Campaign) on the troopship Lake Michigan on 3^rd April 1915. They were part of the second and third waves that landed at Gallipoli on 25^th April.

James was appointed 2^nd Lieutenant in the 4^th Battalion on 28^th April 1915 although an entry in his service records stated 1^st May 1915 at Dardanelles as does his Record of Officer’s Service. There is a note in his service record which reads – “245 Sergeant Major J Home “C” Company 4^th Battalion 1^st Brigade A.I.F. Intermediate Base Depot Cairo Egypt”. The war diary on 2^nd May had “Appointing of the following to be Lieutenants confirmed in orders” with CSM Home J in the list.

He was wounded with a gunshot to the left leg on 3^rd May 1915. The war diary on 3^rd May 1915 reads “No Casualties reported. Fine clear weather. Line of trenches on left centre held by C Coy was shelled by enemy. Capt. J. K. G. Magee and 2^nd Lieut. J. Home were wounded.”

In his records, the Statement of Service paper said he died on 12^th May 1915 at No. 17 General hospital Alexandria of wounds received in action. Another army form reporting the death of a soldier has the entry 4^th Battalion 1^st. Infantry Brigade Australian Imperial Force, 2^nd Lieutenant J Home died of wounds at 13^th May 1915 at No. 17 General Hospital Alexandria and it was signed by Major C T Griffiths, Officer Commanding Records Section Alexandria 22^nd June 1915. No will was in his pay book. His Active Service form has an entry that was reported by the Divisional Officer that James died on the 12^th and was buried on 13^th May 1915. The burial was performed by Chaplain AVC Hordern at Chatby Cemetery. An entry on his Record of Officer’s Service reads “15/5/15. Died of wounds received in action in the Dardanelles. (previously reported wounded.)”. It also stated he was Gazetted under name of T Howe 4^th Battalion with the gazette to be amended 24/6/20. The Military Commandant in Sydney notified Base Records of the same information on 20^th May 1915 and informed them that his relatives living in Scotland were being informed directly.

A Mrs M McManus of 67 Thomas Street Ultimo Sydney wrote to Base Records asking if the person in the casualty list, a 2^nd Lieutenant Home of Scotland who died of wounds, was the same person as the police constable who lived in Coonamble. It was written on 27^th May 1915. She said they had not heard from him since he left and was wondering if she should send a cable. It was also mentioned his solicitor was “Korfe”, Aberford Street Coonamble. The reply from Base Records on 12^th June 1915 acknowledged they are the same person giving his full name as “James Home, born in Durisden, Dufmrieshire, he was 30 years of age, and his next of kin is shown as George Home, father, Newmill on Teviot, Hawick, Scotland. According to my record he died of wounds received in action at the Dardanelles. His next of kin has been advised accordingly.” She could possibly be his sister, Elizabeth born 1882 who died in Sydney. No other details are known of her.

His police record has an entry with the cause and date of leaving police entered as killed in action at the Dardanelles 15.5.1915.

The Leader newspaper in Orange ran a few articles in the Personal column. On Thursday 3^rd June 1915, it read “Lieutenant James Home, the Scotch constable, is dead (writes J. M. Rees, in the “Dubbo Liberal.”) Mr. Home was for about six months a very able, even if strict officer stationed at Coonamble, after doing about 12 years in a crack Scottish regiment. He served through the South African war with great credit. He joined this time as soon as war was declared – as a private – and died at the Dardanelles as a commissioned Lieutenant. All honor to his memory. The late Constable Home was also stationed at Dubbo, and followed Constable Walsh, of Orange, when he was transferred.” They obviously got James and William’s stories mixed up, James joined after the Boer War. Another entry on Tuesday 8^th June 1915 said “An impressive memorial service to Coonamble‘s fallen soldiers was conducted at St Barnabas’ Church of England on Sunday morning. The Mayor, Ald. J. T. Young, unveiled a memorial tablet containing the names of Private Proctor, Second-Lieutenant Home, and Lance-Corporal Nail. Rev. A. H. Gribble in the course of his sermon paid a glowing tribute to the heroic patriotism of our soldiers in the fighting line.”

James is also mentioned in the New South Wales Police Gazette of Wednesday 16^th June 1915 in the Roll of Honor. “The following is a list of members of the New South Wales Police who, since the outbreak of the present war, have volunteered and entered upon active service; together with lists of those who have been wounded, died or killed in action: – The sympathy of every man in the Service is respectfully extended to the friends and relatives of those who have fallen, and also to those who have been wounded, and the hope expressed that they may be restored to health and strength.” HOME, James, Ordinary Constable (Coonamble). Another entry in the same gazette has in a box – Deaths. HOME, James (killed in action).

The Commonwealth War Grave entry reads – “Home, 2^nd Lt. James. 4^th Bn. Australian Inf. Died of wounds 13^th May 1915. Age 31. Son of George and Elizabeth Geddis Home, of Newmill-on-Teviot, Hawick. F. 48.” He was buried at Chatby War Memorial Cemetery in Plot F Grave 48.

An article in The Scottish of July 1915 reads “Lieutenant James Home was reported on May 19^th as having died of wounds at the Dardanelles. Our late friend was a member of the Coonamble police force. Prior to that he was stationed at Dubbo. A native of Selkirkshire, he later spent some years in Fife. Afterwards he joined the 93^rd Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, in which regiment he remained several years, rising to the rank of sergeant. While stationed at Malta he purchased his discharge from the Army, leaving soon after for Australia. He was a fine specimen of manhood, strong and muscular, and standing over 6ft. in height. His sole object in life seemed to be duty. No one speaks more highly of him than the Coonamble chief of police, Sergeant Simon Fraser, as a man of unflinching courage, and whose word was absolutely reliable. When the war broke out he was among the first to volunteer, and left Coonamble with the forty-seven recruits for Sydney. He was about thirty years of age. We mourn him as an old friend and a good fellow in every way.”

An inventory of his effects showed he had 1 unlocked black kit bag, the contents of which were 1 abdominal belt, shirt, breeches, singlet, silver chain, sovereign case, tunic, 1 pair of slacks and a fountain pen. They were despatched to next of kin by Thomas Cook and Son on 13^th August 1915. Another effects inventory lists the contents as 1 silver sovereign case and chain, 1 abdominal belt, 1 flannel shirt, 1 khaki shirt, 1 singlet, 1 fountain pen, 1 khaki tunic and numerals, false teeth and 1 pair of khaki trousers. It stated the bag was despatched on 24^th November 1915 per T Cook to next of kin.

A letter was written to Base Records from James Mitchell, the Inspector General of Police in New South Wales on 21^st June 1915 enquiring if the James Home Colour Sergeant 245 1^st Infantry Brigade 4^th Battalion F Company who died of wounds in the 20^th Casualty List was the police officer who entered military service under the above designation. A reply from Base Records on 28^th June included a description of 2^nd Lieutenant James Home and his place of birth, age, calling, single, date and place of enlistment and next of kin as in his service records. They still had to confirm date and place of death and would do so later. This was acknowledged by the Inspector General on the 30^th.

On 28^th May 1915 H T Korff, Solicitor at Coonamble, wrote to the Officer in Charge of Victoria Barracks in Sydney asking if the report in the newspapers of a J Home being killed in action was the same as “Sergeant J Home B Company 4^th Battalion” and late Police Constable at Coonamble. He held James’ will and was the sole executor and would like to apply for Probate. He asked of evidence of the death and who was named as next of kin. The reply on 12^th June advised they were the same and his details and those of his father (as next of kin) were stated. When official confirming documents arrived he would be informed of their details.

James’ father George wrote to Base Records on 3^rd June 1915. It reads “You will probably be aware that my son 2^nd Lieutenant James Home 4^th Battalion Australian Imperial Force, died from wounds received in action at the Dardanelles. His death occurred on May 15^th, and while we have as yet got no particulars, we expect that it would occur in hospital in Alexandria. I am anxious to get possession of his kit so that I may be able to divide its contents amongst the other members of my family for keepsakes. I am particularly anxious regarding his watch which was given him as a present when he left this country for Australia.” Their reply on 16^th March 1916 advised that James had died at 17^th General Hospital in Alexandria on 13^th May 1915 and was buried at Chatby Cemetery

The reply from Base Records to E L Korff Esq. Solicitor of Coonamble on 13^th June 1915 acknowledged that the person he was enquiring about was James and they confirmed birth place, age and next of kin. His death certificate could not be forwarded until they received the necessary confirming documents from the front and they would send it as soon as they arrived. Another letter was written by him on 11^th August 1915 asking if the necessary documents had arrived to supply him with a death certificate so he could put through Probate of the Will for James as early as possible. Base Records replied on 7^th September 1915, enclosing a certificate of report of his death which just gave his details, wound received in action at the Dardanelles and “(No record available)” and that it was from the Officer Commanding at Alexandria and confirmed by an army form. In another letter from his solicitor on 25^th October, he informed Base Records that the Probate Court required evidence for the date of enlistment into the AIF and he asked if they could supply it. He also sent a letter asking the same details to the Chief Clerk CMF in Sydney on the same date. The reply from Base Records on the 29^th stated he enlisted on the 18^th and was sworn in at Sydney on the 21^st August 1914.

A minute paper with a Defence Telegram from 20^th May 1915 saying Sergeant J Home killed in action from AAG 2^nd Military District was referred to Base Records, was replied to with the statement “Sgt., J. Home was first reported as wounded in action at the Dardanelles, and is now reported as having died of wounds 15^th May 1915.” His father was sent those reports.

A letter written to The Secretary, Department of Defence in Victoria on Argyll and Sutherland Highlander letterhead with an address of British Expeditionary Force, date 8^th July 1915 read “Dear Sir, I shall be very much obliged if you will be good as to send to his father, George Home, Newmill-on-Teviot, Harwick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, the commission dated 10^th May 1915, (or thereabouts), granted to C.S. W1. James HOME, 4^th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, who died (as Second-Lieutenant in the same battalion), of wounds received at Gaba Tepe in the No. 17 General Hospital, Alexandria, on 12^th (officially 15^th) May, 1915. At this opportunity I hope it may not be out of place for me, as a solider with new service, to express my immense admiration for the magnificent work put in by the Australian Corps at the Dardanelles. The glory of their deeds will live in history and not fade while the race survives. Long live, and God prosper, Australia! Yours faithfully, Wm Home, Capt., 11th A. & S. Hrs.” So his brother William had written, asking this question, and he was with the 11th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who had just landed in France at that time. The Adjutant-General replied on 28ht August that they did not have the King’s commission for him yet from England, but upon receipt it would be sent to George. A note was also sent to Base Records to ensure it was follow through.

His promotion to 2^nd Lieutenant was queried by the Adjutant-General to Base Records on 16^th August 1915 and they replied on the 23^rd that they had no advice on the promotion apart from the record that said 2^nd Lieutenant James Home died of wounds. A handwritten note stated “This seems to be a matter for Lieut. Trask” and a reply in red ink added “Only appears 10/10 BRL as Col Sgt. 19/10/14 Not gazetted as an officer to date 20/8/15”.

Another letter from H T Korff to Base Records on 8^th April 1916 asked, that as James had done a will prior to enlistment which had not been witnessed properly, he was wondering if James had done a will in his pay book so he could obtain Probate of the Will. Base Records replied on the 13^th stating they had received no will from Egypt for him, but if there was one in the book the Paymaster would act on it.

On 31^st May 1917 the Warrant for James’ commission was forwarded to his father from Base Records with a note asking if he would confirm safe arrival of it. Base Records wrote to the Officer in charge of records at London on 25^th June 1920, regarding James, saying “It has come under notice that the above officer’s appointment to 2^nd Lieutenant was incorrectly promulgated in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 75 of 1915 under the name “T HOWE”. Steps are therefore being taken to have this entry amended in a later Gazette.” They wanted to know if the Form of Commission had been issued and if not to send it to his father with the address supplied. The reply from London on 30^th August 1920 advising them that the index card dealing with it has been sent to them in May and could then confirm what was on it so that Records in London could act on it appropriately. Base Records in Melbourne replied on 23^rd October advising London that the A.M.S. index for Officers did not contain a card for James and could they do a fresh form and send it to George as discussed before. A fresh form was sent and Base Records were notified on 3^rd February 1921.

An entry in the New South Wales Will Book under number 82017 reads “Home James c/o Coonamble and A I Force. 18 October 1917 on this date Letters of Administration of the Estate of the said deceased were granted to Hector Tollatson Koroff of Coonamble Solicitor the duly appointed Attorney of George Home the father of the said deceased. Bond dispensed with Intestate died 1915. Estate sworn at “376 pounds 10 shillings and 6 pence.”

His medals were issued from London (1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals), and the Memorial Scroll and Plaque and the booklet Where the Australians Rest were all sent to his father.

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