Barr, James Brighton

542 Private James Brighton Barr - 44th Battalion AIF

James Brighton Barr was born in Perth WA in 1892 to James and Hannah Barr. He had two siblings Betsey in 1892 and Marian in 1897, with Marian dying shortly after birth. Sadly his mother Hannah died not long after giving birth to Marian in 1897.

James was brought up by his father James and also two half sisters, Maude (Nellie) and Lucy. He lived for a time with his half sister nellie at Taylor Street South Fremantle as his father died in Perth in 1911.

James was working as a stable hand at Newmarket in White Gum Valley.

On the 12th January 1916 James enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical officer describing James's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 2 & 3/4 inches tall;

Weight - 118lbs;

Chest Measurement - 33-35 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment James was sent to Claremont Camp where he was assigned to "C" Company of the 44th Battalion AIF. 

The 44th Battalion departed from Fremantle Harbour on the 6th June 1916 aboard the HMAT Suevic. After a long sea voyage the ship arrived at Plymouth on the 21st July 1916.

The next few months were spent training on the Salisbury Plains and in November 1916 the 44th Battalion were sent to France. Initially they were sent to the area around Armentieres but by March 1917 the 44th Battalion had moved to Ploegsteert in Southern Belgium.

On the 15th February 1917 James was wounded in action in the right shoulder when German mortar bombs exploded on the 44th Battalion positions. His wounds were initially treated at the 10th Field Ambulance and he was then sent to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station. James was then sent to Wimereux where he was admitted to the 14th General Hospital. He only spent five days there and was then shipped to England for further treatment.

Upon arrival James was sent to the 3rd London General Hospital. On the 9th March 1917 James was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital. He spent just over a week there and on the 17th March 1917 was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.

James would remain at No.2 Command Depot Camp for the next few months while he regained his fitness. In July 1917 James was admitted to Tidworth Military Hospital with appendicitis. He spent a month under care but when he had recovered, he was discharged on the 16th August 1917 and was then sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. He would spend the next few months in England at No.2 Command Depot Camps and No.3 Command Depot Camp.

His fitness was being constantly assessed and in October 1917 James was passed as fit to return to France. On the 30th October 1917 James went to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverell Camp. He spent ten days here and on the 10th November 1917 was sent across to France. James then spent another ten days at the 3rd Australian Division Base Depot at Rouelles. He rejoined the 44th Battalion on the 22nd December 1917.

The 44th Battalion were then in Belgium holding the line south east of Ypres. They would be here till March 1918.

As a result of the German offensive on March 21st 1918 which broke through the British front line further south, the Australian Divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop the German advance. The 44th Battalion were sent to an area near the Somme River at Sailly-le-Sec and Sailly Laurette. The 44th Battalion advanced till they met the Germans in the field near Sailly Laurette and though the German fire stopped the 44th from advancing, the Germans were also stopped.

James and the 44th Battalion were in this sector for the next few months. On the 12th May 1918 James was detached for duty with the 11th Brigade Headquarters. This would have involved being a runner between the 11th Brigade HQ and the 41st, 42nd, 43rd and 44th Battalions plus ancillary brigade units.

On the 4th July 1918 the 11th Brigade took part in the successful capture of Hamel village. James came through this action unscathed and would have been kept busy with his duties at this time.

On the 8th August 1918 the 11th Brigade took part in the successful advance from the Villers-Bretonneux front and they took their objectives. The 11th Brigade advanced continually for the next several weeks, seeing action around Bray, Clery and Peronne. By the 29th September 1918 the 11th Brigade Battalions were at the Hindenburg Line defences and were involved till the 1st October 1918. James again came through unscathed and on the 2nd October 1918 was given two weeks leave to England.

The 11th Brigade were withdrawn from the line for a well deserved rest and were still out of the line when the Armistice was announced in November 1918. James remained with the 11th Brigade HQ till April 1919 when he was transferred back to the 44th Battalion AIF.

On the 29th April 1919 James returned to England and was sent to No.3 Group Camp at Codford to await being assigned a berth on a troopship home. After a months wait James boarded the transport ship Somali on the 1st June 1919. The ship reached Fremantle on the 8th July 1919. James was then disembarked and sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical checkup.

James was discharged from the AIF on the 22nd August 1919. James returned to live in Fremantle for a period of time.

In 1925 he was working as a quarantine assistant at Woodman's Point.

During World War Two James joined the Civil Construction Corps and was kept busy with building civilian shelters and other construction tasks. During World War Two James was living in South Perth.

In 1944 James married May Martin and from 1945 onwards they wee living at Leederville and he was working as a French Polisher.

James died on the 11th November 1963 aged 69. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Anglican ZU 0419.