Joslin, James Douglas

2585B Private James Douglas Joslin - 12th Battalion AIF

James Douglas Joslin was born in Fremantle WA on the 19th May 1899 to William and Sarah Joslin, being one if 11 siblings in the family.

The family lived at 128 Mary Street Fremantle (later renamed to 66 Solomon St) and James was educated locally and spent three years in the Navy Cadets. James spent two years as an apprentice at the Union Stores Fremantle.

Prior to the Great War the Joslin family were at 86 Mandurah Road South Fremantle and James was working as a salesman.

On the 19th July 1916 James enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording James's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 9 & 1/4 inches tall;

Weight - 143lbs;

Chest Measurement - 32-35 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Fair.

Upon his successful enlistment, James was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.80 Training Depot. He spent a few weeks being taken through the basics of infantry work and was then assigned to the 22nd Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF. After a few weeks he was then transferred to the 18th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF.

James spent a few weeks with this group before he was then transferred to the 5th Reinforcements to the 43rd Battalion AIF. The 43rd battalion was a South Australian unit but took reinforcements from WA.

On the 9th November 1916 James and his group entrained to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Argyllshire. The ship then set sail for England, where it arrived at Devonport harbour on the 10th January 1917.

After being disembarked James was sent to the 11th Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains. He was here for a month when he was sent to Fargo Military Hospital ill. He was here for a few weeks when he was returned to camp.

On the 22nd May 1917 James was now sent to France. On arrival at the Base Depot Camp James was re-assigned to be now joining the 12th Battalion AIF. He was taken on strength on the 15th June 1917. When he joined them the 12th battalion were beginning a three month rest period out of the front line. Much of June to August 1917 was taken up with training and sporting activities.

In September 1917 the 12th Battalion were sent into Belgium to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. James saw action during the Battle of Menin Road on the 20th September 1917 and then subsequent actions through October and November 1917 at Polygon Wood, Celtic Wood, Zonnebeke and Passchendaele. He came through all these actions safely.

From December 1917 to March 1918 the 12th Battalion helped hold the front line in Belgium just south of east of Ypres near Hollebeke.

On the 21^st March 1918 the Germans launched their spring offensive which broke the line of the 3^rd and 5^th British Armies and they subsequently were making a speedy advance towards Amiens. The 3^rd and 4^th Australian Divisions were initially sent to stop the advance and were closely followed by the 2^nd and 5^th Divisions. The 1^st Australian Division moved south in early April but had just reached Amiens when news of another breakthrough came to them up north from where they had just left, so the 1^st Australian Division returned north to the Hazebrouck region. The 12^th Battalion, as part of the 1^st Australian Division, would spend April to July 1918 on this front, with the 12^th seeing much action around Merris and Meteren. James came through these actions unscathed but on the 17th June 1918 was evacuated ill with influenza. He was sent to the 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques but fortunately recovered quickly and rejoined the 12th battalion on the 10th July 1918.

In early August 1918 the 1^st Australian Division returned to Amiens to take part in the planned offensive. On August 8^th 1918, Australian, British, Canadian and French soldiers took part in the great offensive which broke the German lines and sent them into retreat. The 12^th Battalion came into the action on August 9/10 near Lihons and seemed to be in constant action until mid September as the advanced progressed through Rosieres, Framerville, Chuignolles and onto Peronne. The 12th Battalion fought their last action of the war near Jeancourt on the 18th September 1918. They were then withdrawn from the line for a well deserved rest period.

On the 15th October 1918 James was given a two week furlough to England, returning to the 12th Battalion on the 1st November 1918. When the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918, the 12th Battalion were still out of the front line.

When the Germans withdrew to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. James remained with the 12th Battalion till April 1919. He was then returned to England. He was sent to No.1 Group Camp at Longbridge Deverell.

On the 1st June 1919 James boarded the transport ship Somali and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 15th August 1919.

James then returned home to 86 Mandurah Road South Fremantle and resumed his occupation as a Salesman.

By 1925 he was living at Hotel Australia in Edward street. In 1927 James married Myrtle Alice Rowland in Fremantle and a son Ronald was born in 1931 and Stanley born in 1935.

The family were then living in 124 Petra Street East Fremantle and James was working as a Lumper. James remained living her till the 1970's

He died on the 5th October 1979 aged 80. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.