GWYNNE, James

GWYNNE, James – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 1402
RANK : Private
UNIT : 5th Light Horse Regiment
ENLISTMENT DATE : 30/07/1915
AGE : 21
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Toowoomba, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Allora, Queensland
RELIGION : Church of England
OCCUPATION : Farmer
DATE OF DEATH : 14/06/1987
PLACE OF BURIAL : Allora, Queensland

MEMORIALS : Allora Shire Soldiers War Memorial, Clifton Allara and Green Mount Districts Roll of Honor

View Veteran’s Service File : GWYNNE, James

NOTES : Gwynne, James (Jim) was born on 15th April 1894 to James Henry and Christina Gwynne of Berat. His mother was a school teacher, and she started the first school in Allora in a tent. After he left school, Jim worked on the family farm. As he was an enterprising young man, he and his brother Jack went into business together as teamsters.

When he was 18 years old, Jim joined the Citizen’s Forces under the direction of Captain Norman Clowes of Warwick. With the event of the First World War, Jim enlisted in the AIF and was a member of the 5th Light Horse Regiment.

He embarked aboard the RMS Mongolia to Egypt, and the family still treasure a postcard of the ship which Jim sent to the family. On the back he wrote, “To all at home. This might give you an idea of size of our ship. Nine times around one deck is one mile. This would be as long as from the cow yard to first rails at the six acres.

Jim’s name appeared in the wounded list published in the Warwick Examiner and times on 14th August 1918. Shot under the right ear, he was lucky the bullet which penetrated through his neck managed to miss all of his major arteries. Strangely, the same bullet then skimmed his mate’s scalp, leaving them both bearing scars for life. This incident occurred when Jim was sniping in the Jordan Valley. After his discharge from the army in 1919, he returned home to Allora.

In 1920 Jim secured a soldier settlers block of 100 acres at Berat. He named the property ‘Rafa’. Rafa was one of the early battles Jim had been involved in. In 1922 Jim married Ada Shooter of Allora and they had three children.

When the RSL Sub Branch was formed in Allora, he was a foundation member. He served as President for 22 years, received Life Membership with the RSL in 1956 and in December 1986, Jim was awarded the Leagues 50 years’ Service Award.

When the film Gallipoli was completed, Jim was invited as a special guest to the premier. Jim always acknowledged the fact the most significant memory he had of the war, was the comradeship with his fellow soldiers.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.