McCabe, John
Lieutenant John McCabe - 36th Heavy Artillery Group
John Henry McCabe was born in Oatlands Tasmania on the 30th January 1883 to John and Helena McCabe.
John had served four and a half years with the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery prior to his enlistment in June 1915. He had previously been a Grocer by trade. In 1912 he was appointed as a Bombardier in the RAGA.
On the 5th January 1914 he had married Catherine Graves in Hobart Tasmania.
John and his wife Catherine were living at the married quarters of the Artillery Barracks Fremantle.
On the 1st June 1915, John and other permanent Gunners volunteered for service overseas. John was passed as fit by the medical examiner who recorded his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 9 inches tall;
Chest Measurement - 39 inches;
He was given the Regimental number 159.
James and his fellow Gunners who enlisted to serve overseas would form part of the Heavy Artillery Siege Brigade.
The Gunners who enlisted in WA were then sent to Victoria where the other Artillerymen of the Permanent Forces were gathering. On the 17th July 1915 Arthur and the others of the original Australian Siege Brigade departed from Port Melbourne aboard the transport ship HMAT Orsova which took them to England.
After a few months of training in England, Arthur and the 36th Heavy Artillery Group arrived in France on the 27th February 1916. At this time James had the rank of Sergeant.
James served with the 55th Siege Battery through 1916 participating in such actions as the Battle of the Somme. On the 2nd December 1916 James was transferred from the 55th Battery to the 36th Heavy Artillery Group Headquarters. He was also then promoted to Warrant Officer Class I.
On the 16th January 1917 he was granted a fortnight's leave to the UK and returned to his unit on the 1st February 1917.
John served with the 36th Heavy Artillery Group HQ during the Hindenburg Line outpost battles, Messines and the Third battle of Ypres in 1917. Due to his good service, John was recommended for Officers Training School.
On the 21st September 1917 John returned to England and went to an Artillery Officer's Training School at St John's Wood. This course lasted for a few months, which meant John had a long stay in England.
On the 1st March 1918 John was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant and on the 5th April 1918 he was taken back on strength of the 36th Heavy Artillery Group.
John was assigned to the 2nd Australian Siege Battery for duty and remained with this group for two months as on the 14th June 1918 he was transferred to the 36th Heavy Artillery Group Headquarters. He was then also promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
The next six months were busy for John as from August 1918 when the successful advance against the Germans commenced, the front was constantly on the move.
On the 5th November 1918 John was granted a period of leave to England so he was away from his unit when the Armistice was declared.
After his return to the unit on the 29th November 1918, John was appointed Acting adjutant of the 36th Heavy Artillery Group.
On the 6th February 1919 John returned to England and was soon assigned a berth on a troopship home. On the 19th April 1919 John boarded the transport ship Sardinia and returned to Western Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 20th May 1919.
John was discharged from the AIF on the 27th July 1919. He was then taken back on strength of the Permanent Australian Artillery. On his return he initially lived at the Artillery Barracks but then moved into accommodation in Ainslie Road North Fremantle.
John entered into local politics as from 1924 to 1931 John became the Mayor of North Fremantle municipality. He was also heavily involved in getting the Fallen Soldiers Memorial in North Fremantle erected.
John McCabe died on the 2nd October 1932 aged 49. The West Australian reported on his military funeral.