Carrington, James Edward
No.412 – Private James Edward Carrington –
11th Battalion AIF
James Edward Carrington was born in Bendigo Victoria on the 27th November 1883 to James and Hannah Carrington. He was educated at Mologa East State School in Victoria and after leaving school took up work as a blacksmith and fitter. James was interested in the military and spent two years of service with the Victorian Mounted Rifles. The family then moved across to Western Australia circa 1902 . They initially resided in Adelaide Street and then took up residence at 25 South St Fremantle. James worked for the WA Government Railways in both Fremantle and Yalgoo. The 1910 census lists James at 25 South Street. James continued his work as a fitter and joined up with the Garrison Artillery in Fremantle.
On the 14th August 1914 James went to the Fremantle Drill Hall and offered his services to the AIF. He was given a medical examination by Captain Brennan of Fremantle Hospital who found James to be 5 feet 7 ¼ inches in height; weight of 10 stone; chest measurement of 37 inches; dark complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. Accepted as fit for service he was assigned to D Company of the 11th Battalion with the regimental number 412.
The 11th Battalion trained at Blackboy Hill Camp till late October as on the 2nd November 1914 they embarked from Fremantle Harbour on the H.M.A.T. “Ascanius”. After their arrival in Egypt the 11th Battalion set up camp at Mena. While here, their 8 company system was changed into 4 Companies with the result that James’s D Company combined with C Company to form new “B” Company. The next few months would be spent in hard training. On the 2nd March 1915 the 11th Battalion, as part of the 3rd Brigade departed Egypt and headed for Lemnos Island. They were based here for preparation of a landing on the Turkish Coast. Of the three infantry brigades, the 3rd was judged the most experienced in training and capability and was therefore chosen to make the initial landing. While at Lemnos they practiced disembarking from their ships into the whalers as well as training on the island and going for route marches. In April they were joined by other Australian, New Zealand, British and French troops.
On April 25th 1915 the landing took place, with the 11th Battalion landing in the area from Plugges Plateau to out along North Beach. The men made their way inland as best they could through the rugged country. Turkish resistance increased throughout the day particularly along the vital heights of the 2nd Ridge. James’s section pushed inland and after the first day nothing more was seen of him.
(Photo below - James Carrington outside his tent in Egypt)
No.421 Cpl Jim Durward of the 11th stated that James was,
“last seen on the left flank of the line about 1 ½ miles in from the beach at Anzac Cove. This was about as far as the line penetrated, though a good many individuals got a bit further. Of these only a small proportion returned, some of them not till the next day. Sgt Chamberlain, the platoon Sergeant, who is also missing, was with them when I saw them last.”
Another witness, No.438 Corporal Holmes stated that;
“Carrington, he was with me right in front on what was afterwards known as ‘Quinn’s Post’. We received an order from Bde. Major (Major Brand) to retire and I did not see Carrington again. All the ground was reoccupied by the Turks.”
In hospital in England Sergeant Duncan Sharp was interviewed by the Red Cross and gave the following evidence that;
“on April 25th 1915 in front of position called Quinn’s Post when the order to advance was given Pte. Carrington was with informant; half an hour later on leaving to retire he was missed. The ground was lost and informant feels certain that Carrington was killed; ‘he being the kind of man who would never allow himself to be taken alive”.
So it seemed certain that James Carrington was killed on the first day at Gallipoli in the vicinity of Quinn’s Post. However he was officially labeled as ‘Missing’ and it wasn’t until a Court of Inquiry was held at Fletre France on April 10th 1916 that James was declared as Killed in Action.
As his body was not recovered he was commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.
James’s younger brother, No.5675 Pte Charles Henry Carrington also served with the 11th Battalion in the war, being wounded twice and being awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on 2nd June 1918 during actions at Mont de Merris where as a stretcher bearer he saved many lives under very heavy fire. Charles survived the war and died in 1968 at Ballidu. He is buried in Fremantle Cemetery in RC.CC.1004.