McConnell, James Patrick
No.984 – Private James McConnell – 11th Battalion AIF
James Patrick McConnell was born in Cumberland Sydney NSW to Patrick and Mary McConnell in 1886. The family ran the Metropolitan Hotel in Sydney but unfortunately it appears that his parents died while James was still young and he moved to Ballymena in Ireland for a time to live with relations. John was educated at the Cushendall Road National School and then at the Ballymena Academy. He then gained an apprenticeship with the Engineering firm of Messer’s Combe, Barbour and Combe in Belfast, but then returned to New South Wales to work as a Machinist apprenticeship with the Clyde Engineering Company of Sydney. He spent five years as an apprentice and continued with this career after he qualified for his trade. During this time James began his service with the military and he spent a few years with the 5th Howitzer Battery of the NSW Citizen Forces. It seems that apart from a half sister, Rose, he had no attachments in NSW. James returned for a visit to his friends in Ballymena Ireland, but on his return to Australia James travelled to WA, where he found employment at the State Implement Works in North Fremantle. He boarded with the Finlay family of Bay Road North Fremantle and soon became good friends with David Finlay, who was a Blacksmith at the Implement Works.
With the outbreak of the Great War both David Finlay and James McConnell enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. Both were passed as fit for service by Dr Edward Brennan of Fremantle Hospital, who was soon to be appointed the 11th Battalion medical officer. James was found to be 5 feet 6 inches tall; weight of 10 stone; chest measurement of 35-37 inches; dark complexion; blue eyes and dark hair. James also had a distinctive tattoo of a kangaroo and union jack on his upper left arm. James’s religious denomination was Roman Catholic and his next of kin was listed as his Uncle, Charles McConnell in County Antrim Ireland.
James took the opportunity to draw up a will and he bequeathed five pounds to Mr. ED Scott of Thompson Rd North Fremantle, five pounds to Mrs. David Finlay of “Woodbine” Bay Rd North Fremantle and any residue in his pay to Margaret McKinney, Nurse of Broughahane Street, Ballymena, County Antrim Ireland.
James joined his mate David Finlay at Blackboy Hill Camp as both were assigned to the 11th Battalion. David was given the regimental no.427 and James was 984. They trained with the 11th Battalion at Blackboy Hill Camp until the end of October 1914. News then came through with their orders to depart and on the 2nd November 1914 they boarded the HMAT Ascanius in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt.
After arriving in Egypt in early December 1914, the 11th Battalion set up camp at Mena near Cairo and they would train here until early March 1915. During this time they received orders to change from eight companies to four, with the result that their “D” Company joined “C” Company to form a new “B” Company. In early March 1915 the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division, to which the 11th Battalion belonged; received orders to leave Egypt and proceed to Lemnos Island, off the coast of Turkey. The 11th Battalion spent over six weeks at Lemnos Island, though they lived on the troopship, and only trained on the island. They also put much practise into disembarking from the ships into the smaller ships in preparation for the landing.
(Photo below - Of the five soldiers in the photo, only Private Finlay & Braidwood survived the war. McConnell and Devenish died at Gallipoli while Ernest Hearle, though wounded at Gallipoli, returned and served with the 3rd Machine Gun Company AIF in France. He was killed at Bullecourt in May 1917.)
Towards the middle of April 1915 more Australian, New Zealand, British, French and Indian troops began to appear on Lemnos Island and it was known the landing would take place soon. On the evening of April 24th the 11th Battalion departed Lemnos and steamed towards the Turkey. In the early hours of April 25th the landing took place on the Turkish coast at what would become known as Anzac Cove with the 11th Battalion actually landing at what was known as North Beach.
The Australians made their way inland and captured land up to the 2nd Ridge. Isolated parties of men continued forward but these were unsupported so they returned or were killed by the Turks. By mid morning the Turkish forces had strongly attacked the Australian positions and several crucial battles sprung up along the 2nd Ridge. David was wounded when shrapnel struck him in the wrist and he was evacuated to the hospital ship and was taken back to Egypt. James survived the hectic first week unscathed and answered his name at roll call on May 2nd when the 11th Battalion was able to form at Anzac Beach after being scattered across the battlefield.
After the 11th Battalion reformed they were sent to the southern portion of the Anzac Battlefield. James did not take part in the failed raid at Gaba Tepe but remained in the line near Bolton’s Ridge for the next few weeks. On the 19th May the Turkish forces launched a massive assault on the Anzac lines but the Turks were only able to reach the Australian and New Zealand positions in a few sectors. Most of the Turks were mown down by the heavy machine gun and rifle fire. The Turks did lash the Australian lines with shrapnel & rifle fire and many men including James were killed when defending their line from the Turkish attack. It was later reported that James had been shot under the right arm, with the bullet going through his body and that he never spoke a word after being shot.
James was buried in the Victoria Gully No.1 Cemetery in a service attended by mates and presided over by Father Fahey.
In June David Finlay returned to the 11th Battalion to find that his good mate had been killed and no doubt took the opportunity to visit James’s grave in Victoria Gully. David survived the August fighting on the peninsula and left Gallipoli with the 11th Battalion in December 1915. After returning to Egypt David was diagnosed with diphtheria and influenza and spent much time in hospital. This seemed to lead to cardiac trouble and David was invalided to Western Australia in April 1916, initially on a four month rest period, but after being examined at No.8 AGH in Fremantle the cardiac trouble seemed greater than first diagnosed so David was discharged from the AIF.
After the war was over and the War Graves parties returned to Gallipoli James’s grave was located and moved to Brown’s Dip Cemetery. However due to this site being conducive to flooding, James and the other soldiers were moved to Lone Pine Cemetery where James rests in plot I.F.16.
After James’s death it was found that his Uncle who had been listed as his next of kin had died, but his half sister in NSW, Rose was traced down and she was assigned his war medals.