Gummow, James Henry

4126 Company Sergeant Major James Henry Gummow - 28th Battalion AIF

James Henry Gummow was born at Mount Hope Cobar NSW on the 20th September 1883 to Joseph and Maria Gummow. He was one of eight siblings with, Bertha (1878), Joseph (1879), Daniel (1882), William (1885), George (1887), Ethel (1890) and Richard (1892). His father died in 1896. His mother remarried and he had a half brother Archibald born in 1899.

James was educated in Cobar NSW and after leaving school he took up work as a miner.

In 1904 in Lithgow NSW he married Edith Annie Morgan and they would have three children, David in 1904, Bertha in 1906 and Elsie in 1908. Unfortunately Bertha would died shortly after her birth. All the children had been born in Lithgow.

During this time in NSW James had six years with 3rd NSW Militia Regiment.

He came to Western Australia in 1910, living and working in Boulder WA, then with his wife Edith living they moved with their children to Canning Road East Fremantle, an then Wesley Road South Fremantle. A few other of the other siblings and his mother also moved to Fremantle at this time.

On the 30th December 1915 James enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 & 3/4 inches tall;

Weight - 129lbs;

Chest Measurement - 34-36 inches;

Complexion - Fresh,

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After his successful enlistment James was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He was initially sent to No.41 Depot and ten days later was sent to the NCO School. He was then assigned to the 10th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF who were training at Belmont Camp. Before they embarked the group had their photo taken at Belmont Camp.

This group embarked from Fremantle Harbour in March 1916 aboard the transport ship HMAT Ulysses and set sail for Egypt, arriving in April 1916. By the time they had arrived in Egypt the 28th Battalion had already departed for France, so James was kept in a camp with other reinforcements.

On the 29th May 1916 James left Egypt aboard a transport ship and departed from France, reaching Marseilles on the 5th June 1916. He then entrained north and ended up in Etaples where he was sent into the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot.

James was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 2nd August 1916. The 28th Battalion had just been through their first attack at Pozieres and sustained heavy casualties. Two days after James joined them on August 4th, the 28th Battalion were involved in an attack at Pozieres which captured the vital windmill position.

James came through this attack without being wounded and also saw action at Mouquet Farm later in the month.

In September and October 1916, the 28th Battalion served in Ypres in Belgium, but returned to the Somme battlefield in France in November 1916 and remained in this sector till March 1917.

On the 17th March 1917 James was promoted to Corporal and he was at this rank when he saw action at Lagnicourt in March 1917 and Bullecourt in May 1917. He again came through these actions safely and on the 17th May was promoted to Sergeant.

After their action at Bullecourt in May 1917, the 28th Battalion were withdrawn from the line for a three month rest.

Having been through some major battles, James took the opportunity to write up a will, which would leave everything to his wife. Will drawn up below and had been witnessed by two fellow soldiers.

On the 15th July 1917, James was granted two weeks leave in England. After he returned from leave, the Battalion was still out of the line training.

In September and October 1917, the 28th Battalion served at the Third Battle of Ypres, seeing action at the Battle of Menin Road on September 20th and Zonnebeke and Broodseinde Ridge on October 4th. 

On the 26th September 1917, James was promoted to Company Sergeant Major. 

From November to January 1918 the Battalion remained in the line in Belgium. On the 8th January 1918 James was evacuated to hospital sick with gastritis. He remained in hospital till the end of the month when he returned to the Battalion.

On the 27th February 1918 James was granted a two week furlough to England, however during his leave James fell ill and was sent to Hospital. He was diagnosed with venereal disease and was sent to No.1 Australian Dermatological Hospital. He remained in hospital until the 30th April 1918, when he was then sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny.

James would be retained at No.1 Command Depot Camp for the remainder of the war where he acted as an instructor.

On the 2nd January 1919, James boarded the transport ship Karmala and returned to Western Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 15th February 1919.

James was discharged from the AIF on the 8th April 1919.

He returned to lived in WA for a time but then returned to NSW with his family, going to live in Lithgow NSW.

His wife died in 1953 and James died on the 13th August 1957 in Parramatta NSW.