James (Roy) Braidwood MM MID

Western Mail 6 Aug 1915
Personal Information
Date of Birth	21 Apr 1889
Place of Birth	Norwood, South Australia
Death	25 Jul 1963, aged 74
Place of Death	Sydney, New South Wales
Age at Enlistment	25 years, 6 months
Description	5' 10½" (1.79m) tall; weight 135 lbs(61.2 kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair
Occupation	farmer
Religion	Church of England
Address	River road, Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Fathe Mr Duncan Henry Braidwood
Military Information
Reg Number	1773
Date of Enlistment	29 Aug 1914
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	8th Battery, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade / 1st Division
Date of Embarkation	2 Nov 1914 - 3 Dec 1914
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A7 Medic
Date of Return	13 Aug 1915 to 10 Sep 1915
Ship Returned On	HMAT A32 Themistocles
Fate	Wounded in Action 6 May 1915 at Gallipoli Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott
Medals	Military Medal 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Prior to his enlistment he was farming in East Brookton. On enlistment it is noted that he has two gunshot wounds to his right upper arm [ too young to have served in South Africa].

War Service

THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE UNDER CANVAS AT BLACKBOY HILL. The following promotions have been made in the artillery:- ... Corporals, J. R. Braidwood..

The battery was landed near Gabe Tepe (Anzac Cove) on the 1st of May. On the 6th, with the battery only partly dug in on a ridge near Gabe Tepe, the guns were run out to a firing position, the required number of shells fired, and then quickly run back to pits dug to provide some protection. It was around 4:00pm during the removal of the guns back to their pits after firing a second set of 20 rounds, that the enemy, now keenly aware of the guns position, fired back. A shell landed beside the gun and wounded James in the buttocks, and Gunner Lovell in the chest and right arm. The Battery Commander immediately wrote up Sgt Braidwood along with another Sgt for their conspicuous gallantry, in the unit's War Diary. Admitted to the 17th General Hospital, he was repatriated to Australia and received a Medical discharge at 5th Military District on 26 Jul 1916 due to shrapnel wound to his left buttock and paralysis of his lower left limb. Although he re-enlisted on 1 Aug 1916 - he was deemed 'fit for home service only'. Discharged at his own request on 30 Sep 1917. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. RETURNING SOLDIERS BY THE THEMISTOCLES. TROOPSHIP DUE TO-DAY. MILITARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR RECEPTION. The military authorities expect the troop ship Themistocles with over 700 returned soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force on board to reach Fremantle during this afternoon or evening. The sick and wounded for Western Australia number 70, and it is again extremely satisfactory to record on the advice of the District Headquarters that there are no disciplinary cases among these, also that the whole of the cases of sickness are directly incidental to military service. With the exception of seven men, the rest of the returning heroes will be removed to the military hospital, Fremantle, in motor cars, which will be provided by the Automobile Club of Western Australia. On this occasion District Headquarters has been instructed by the Defence Department, Melbourne, to permit, as far as possible, facilities for a public reception to the returned men, and accordingly it has been arranged that the soldiers shall reach the wharf at Fremantle about half-past 8 to-morrow morning. A military band will await the arrival of the men at the wharf and as soon as possible after the time stated our sick and wounded will be conveyed in motor cars direct to the military hospital, via the main streets, headed by the band. The hour mentioned may appear somewhat early, but has been fixed as suiting best the convenience of all concerned. The seven "cot" cases will be removed to the hospital in ambulance vehicles. The authorities announce that the returned soldiers may be visited at the military hospital, Fremantle after arrival there, on presentation of the necessary pass, which must be procured from District Headquarters, James-street, Perth. The revised list of the men. returning to Western Australia in the Themistocles is, as follows:-..8th Battery, Field Artillery...Sergeant J. R. Braidwood.

MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES. DISTINGUISHED AUSTRALIANS. London. Nov. 5. Sir Ian Hamilton's despatches from the Dardanelles mention the following members of the Australian forces: Artillery.... Sgt J. Braidwood.

STONY CROSSING. The annual picnic and sports this year were held in aid of the Sandbag Fund, and proved a very successful function, the surrounding districts turning out en mass to help the movement. Sergeant Roy Braidwood, at present an inmate of the No. 8 Military Hospital at Fremantle, was also subjected to an eulogy for his bravery, along with many other brave comrades at the front.

THE ANZAC LUNCHEON. Invitations for next Tuesday's luncheon in the Town Hall have been issued by the Soldier's Welcome Home Committee to Anzac heroes as follows:-...Sergeant Braidwood, J.

Sgt Braidwood M.M. is the new secretary of the W.A. Association of Soldiers' and Sailors' Relatives.

Award Commentary

Special Mention in 1st Australian Division Orders No 161 for

 "Act of conspicuous gallantry for valuable service during period 6 May to 28 June 1915."
 

MID Awarded and Gazetted 'London Gazette', Supplement No. 29354 (5 Nov 1915); (Commonwealth Gazette No. 12 - 27th Jan 1916 Page 156, position 22. [Gen Ian Hamilton CIC MED]).

Military Medal.

 "At Anzac as No.1 of a gun which was detailed to be run from its pit by hand up to the parados of the infantry trench, a distance of about 100 yards of which 15 yards were in the open in clear view of the enemy trenches.  On arrival at the parados 20 rounds were fired at the enemy works at a range of 350 yards.  The gun was then run back to its pit.  This operation was carried out on three different occasions".

Source: London Gazette of 27 Oct 1916 and 'Commonwealth Gazette' No 62 page 918, position 87. Date: 19 Apr 1917.

A more comprehensive although incomplete story is told in the Australian War memorials website.

Despatch of 25th August 1915, AIF Gallipoli. Particulars relating to both Sgt Braidwood and Sgt Wallis W.D. read

 "These sergeants are brought to notice as representing two gun detachments of the 8th Battery who, after very great difficulty, succeeded in bringing a section of the battery, under the Officer Commanding - Major Bessel-Browne - on to the summit of the 400 Plateau.  The guns were dug in, rear of the crest of the hill but it was found that, owing to the shortness of the range and flat trajectory of the guns, it was not possible to engage some works which the enemy had constructed within 350 yards of our infantry trenches and was improving, and which were becoming a source of very great danger.  In accordance with the orders of the G.O.C. that these works were to be shelled, on the afternoon of 5th May the guns were run out into the open with drag ropes a distance of 60 to 70 yards, and under terrific cross fire from the enemy's batteries, engaged the works mentioned.  After firing 15 to 20 rounds the guns were withdrawn from the open into the emplacements without loss of life or injury to material.  On the following morning - 6th May - the G.O.C. desired that this target be again engaged in order to break down the work that the enemy had constructed during the night.  The......    

(unfortunately the rest of the despatch is not included on the AWM site)

Post War

On his return from France, Roy became a carpenter, living in Nedlands until around 1958 when he was a builder living in Mt Pleasant, before moving by 1963 to Clontarf in N.S.W. Although he died in NSW, he was buried in Karrakatta cemetery.