James Thomas Williamson

First Name: 
James
Middle Name: 
Thomas
Last Name: 
Williamson
Date of Birth: 
Friday, August 9, 1895
Mother's Name: 
Magdalena Williamson nee Smith
Father's Name: 
Frances John Williamson
Date Enlisted: 
Wednesday, September 1, 1915
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
2nd Battalion
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
Military Medal
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Place of Death: 
Wollongong, N.S.W.
Details: 

James Williamson (Service No 3969) was born in Corrimal, N.S.W.

At enlistment John was single, 21 years old, worked as a miner and lived at Tarrawanna, N.S.W.  He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A7 Medic with 2nd Battalion, 12th Reinforcement on 30th December 1915. 

After arriving in Egypt, John went to France with the battalion on 4th April 1916, and saw service on the Somme.  John was admitted to hospital suffering from influenza on 13th December 1916.  He returned to his unit on 14th July 1917 but was re-admitted to hospital on 20th October 1917, again with influenza.

John attended machine gun training in England and was transferred to 5th Machine Gun Battalion on 11th April 1918 and served with them until the end of the war.

John's exemplary conduct in the field resulted in his being awarded the Military Medal for his actions of 1st & 2nd September 1918.  The recommendation for his award states: 'He carried despatches during the operations in the vicinity of PERONNE on 1st and 2nd September, 1918 through heavy barrages and at all times during the advance showed conspicuous bravery and initiative. In several instances it was entirely due to the bravery of this soldier that communication was maintained.'   Commonwealth Gazette No 109, 15th September 1919.

He was returned to Australia in May 1919 and discharged from the AIF on 23rd August 1919.

In 1922 John married Myra Smith in Wollongong, N.S.W. 

He enlisted for service in World War II (Service No N70667) and served as a Lance Corporal Williamson with the 6th Australian Detention Barrack in Orange, from 3rd September 1940 to 28th July 1944.

John died in Wollongong in 1973.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, WILLIAMSON JAMES THOMAS

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Comments

This article refers to my Grandfather as John. Its an error. He was James. Pop was also called Jim for short. Pop was a good man,I miss him always.