Born in Gloucester, Northumberland in the UK, farm hand James enlisted at Liverpool on the 18th of January 1916 and served with the 16th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion, aged 21 years and 5 months. His father, B,H. Nash of Gloucester River, NSW is listed as his next of kin.
Boarding the ‘HMAT A70 Makarini’ at Sydney on the 1st of April 1916, the 16th Reinforcements disembarked at Suez on the 1st of May to join the 1st Training Battalion. Arriving at Etaples from England on the 26th of July, the 16th Reinforcements joined the 2nd Battalion on the 10th of August.
On 22nd September James was detached for duty with the 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Company and rejoined his unit on the 18th of October. He was again detached for duty with the mining battalion at Brazenton on the 11th of December, returning to his unit again on the 21st of December. On the 28th of December, he reported sick with trench foot at the Field Ambulance and was transferred to 1st Australian MD Station where he remained until the 14th of January 1917.
On the 1st of March he again reported sick to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance with dysentery where he was transferred the next day to the 2/1 SM CCS. On the 6th he left the 2/1 to arrive at the 24th General Hospital on the 7th. James boarded the ‘H.S. Brighton’ at Calais on the 14th and after arriving in the UK the next day, was taken to the 3rd Northern General Hospital at Shefield, Yorkshire. On the 27th of July he was transferred to the East Leeds War Hospital. Between the 21st of September to the 17th of October James was at the Dysentery Convalescent Hospital Barton on Sea, Hampshire and on 18th of October he was discharged to report to No 1 C/D Sutton Veny, where many of the AIF in the UK were housed. On the 31st of October, he was transferred to join the GHQ Overseas Training Brigade Long Bridge, Deverill, for guard duty where he arrived on the 7th of November.
Giving his address as Sandhill Camp, Warminster, Wiltshire, James married 21-year-old Maude Bray of 12 Cobden Terrace, Crooks, Sheffield on the 28th of February 1918. On the 26th of March, he changed his NOK to his bride. James left from Folkeston for France on the 1st of May however, and the New Zealand Infantry Base Depot before rejoining the 2nd Battalion on the 6th of June.
The Battle of Albert (21st–23rd of August 1918) was the third battle by that name fought during World War I, This smaller third battle was significant in that it was the opening push that would lead to the Second Battle of the Somme and involved the Australian Corps. This attack opened the advance; the main thrust was launched by the Third Army along with support from the Fourth Army. The Second Battle of Bapaume, from the 25th of August to the 3rd of September, was a continuation of this battle.
The attacks developed into an advance, which pushed the German 2nd Army back along a 50-mile (80 km) front line. On the 22nd of August, the 18th (Eastern) Division took Albert, with the British and Americans advancing on Arras. The following day, the Australian 1st Division, which was advancing north-east from Proyart, attacked German fortifications around Chuignes, and succeeded in capturing the town. The new husband was killed by a shell which landed in close proximity in an attack east of Proyart in the action on the 23rd of August 1918.
His death was instantaneous. He was buried at Haibonniere near Proyart map reference: A.14. R.9.5 D 62, H 14, A7.8. by the Reverend Captain O’Donnell. A letter to his father dated the 8th of April, advised that James was reinterred at the Heath Cemetery 1 ½ miles north of Haibonnieres, 7 ¼ miles ease-southeast of Corbie.
