James Baillie

James Baillie

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Lewisham, New South Wales
Death	7 Jun 1940 aged 61
Place of Death	Victoria Park, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	36 years old
Description	5'8" (1.m) tall ; 127lbs 57.606 kg ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; light hair ; tattoo on left forearm
Occupation	mechanic
Religion	Church of England
Address	William street, East Cannington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Doris Baillie
Military Information
Reg Number	3421
Date of Enlistment	16 Aug 1915
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	6th Field Company Engineers
Date of Embarkation	24 Nov 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A40 Ceramic
Date of Return	25 Dec 1918 ‒ 1 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On	HMT Takada
Fate	Wounded in action 3 May 1917 Wounded in action 23 Jul 1918 Returned to Australia
Monument	none as yet
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Previous experience with the Militia (Infantry).

War Service

Within a month of entering camp James was allocated to the Engineers -No 3 Section, 6th Field Company.

On 19 Mar 1916 he boarded the "City of Edinburgh" in Alexandria harbour, for Marseilles in France where he arrived on 27 Mar 1916. Keen to make the acquaintance of the locals he immediately went AWOL - from 1pm 27 Mar till 6:00pm 30 Mar 1916 (77 hours between 27 and 30 Mar 1916 and was awarded 28 days Field Punishment and forfeited 32 days pay.)

On 12 Apr 1917 he was charged with being 'Unshaven on Parade' for which the punishment was the loss of 2 days pay. James was Wounded in action on 3 May 1917 when he received a shell wound to the head from the enemy bombardment that followed the attack on OG1 and OG2 near Reincourt in a battle that became known as 2nd Bullecourt.

Treated by the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station he was placed on Ambulance Train No 16 the same day for Rouen where he was admitted to the 5th General Hospital. On 14 Mar 1917 he was transferred to the 2nd Convalescent Depot in Rouen, and on 19 May 1917 to the 11th Convalescent Depot at Buchy. By 12 Jun 1917 he was fit to return to the fighting and was released to the Australian General Base Depot in Rouelles. A week later he was back with his Company.

On 7 Oct 1917 he was appointed Lance Corporal before travelling to the UK for leave between 4 Dec and 23 Dec when he rejoined his unit. On 28 Dec 1917 James was detached for duty to the 4th Field Artillery Brigade, rejoining his unit on 27 Jan 1918, remaining with them until 18 May 1918 when he was sent to the Corps Gas School, returning on 26 May 1918.

Despite this training, on 23 Jul 1918 James was the victim of a gas shell, requiring attention first from the 6th Australian Field Ambulance, before he was passed to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station and on 27 Jul 1918 to the 41st Stationary Hospital in Pont Remy who diagnosed the injury had been caused by Mustard Gas. Released to the 2nd Stationary Hospital on 7 Aug 1918, two days later he was placed on Ambulance Train 19 for the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Boulogne. Classified as dangerously ill on 10 Aug 1918.

On 20 Aug 1918 he was evacuated to England where he entered hospital in Kent. On 4 Oct 1918 he was released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital before being transferred to 2nd Command Depot in Weymouth on 13 Nov 1918. One of the earlier ones to head home.