Northern Territory Library |
|
|||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
James Cain
| Photo: |
|
| Name: |
|
| Rank: |
|
| Service Number: |
|
| Place of Birth: |
|
| Next of Kin: | Thomas and Margaret Cain - Parents ; His father lived at Hergott Springs (south of Lake Eyre) South Australia, (Now renamed Marree because of the anti German sentiments in WW1) |
| Biographical notes: | Information, which unfortunately appears to be authentic, reached Darwin on Saturday, to the effect that James L. Cain, better known as "Jimmy," had been killed in action on April 20th, somewhere in Egypt. The news will be received with very sincere regret, and heartfelt sympathy will be felt for the Cain family. Jimmy was an exceedingly, popular Darwin boy, and his genial sunny nature won him hosts of friends. His brothers Joe, Leo, and Roy are on active service, and it has been no fault of Norman's that he has not gone. James L. Cain received his education mainly in the Northern Territory. On leaving school he entered the Locomotive workshops at 2½ Miles, where he learned the fitting branch of the engineering trade, eventually graduating as leading fitter. He was a born mechanic and had a brilliant future before him. Thus is the Great War taking its toll of all that is best in the land, and while the Great Sacrifice was made cheerfully by jimmy, we cannot but deplore the irreparable loss. The last word of Jimmy received in Darwin appears to be in a letter from Sergt. J. J. McDonald dated 12th March. The Sergt. writes:' "Jimmy Cain is still here, also Scales (one time of the Govt. Freezer, Darwin), and both are quite well.
Northern Territory Times and Gazette, Thursday 11 May 1916, page 7 Brothers: Sergeant Joe Cain,1898 5th Divisional Signal Company, Croix de Guerre, 18th Battalion; Lance Corporal Cyril F. Cain (759), 27th Battalion; Sapper A.N. "Roy" Cain (52557), 5th Divisional Signals Companies Engineers. |
| Occupation: |
|
| Date of Enlistment: | 22 March 1915. |
| Age at Enlistment: |
|
| Place of Enlistment: |
|
| Unit: |
|
| Service: |
|
| Date of Death: | 20 April 1916. |
| Place of Death: |
|
| Place of Burial: |
|
| Memorials: |
|
| Service History: | Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A55 Kyarra on 16 April 1915.
Joined Battalion on Gallipoli 27 June 1915. To hospital on 29 August 1915. Rejoined Battalion 8 January 1916. Embarked on Saxonia at Alexandria 27 March 1916. Disembarked Marseilles 3 April 1916. 9th Battalion War Diary, 20 April 1916. "At 1315 today the Billets occupied by C Company were subjected to heavy bombardment by the enemy: fifty or sixty shells H.E. were landed in the Billet area. Early in the bombardment a shell landed in one of the Caurus? Huts wounding four men. Some men ran to the assistance of the wounded and another shell caught them. A subsequent shell struck the wall of the Billet (Brick) and accounted for 47 casualties. The following are casualties: Killed 1 Officer (Lieut. Fothergill) 2 NCO’s 22 Privates Total 25 Wounded 1 Officer Capt. McKillop MO 9 NCO’s 40 Privates Total 50 All were buried in the English Cemetery the same evening. Capt. The Rev Lundie (Pres) and Fahy (RC) officiating. A Battery ours had been active all day and it appears as if the enemy were trying to get this battery. A Coy of 3rd battalion arrived 1930 and retired C Coy. The latter Coy marched to new Billeting area at Shilly le Lys. The rest of Bn is to be relieved tomorrow." |
| Related link: |
Service Record
Roll of Honour Embarkation Roll Nominal Roll PictureNT : Military men Unit War diary Harvey, Norman K. From Anzac to the Hindenburg Line : the history of the 9th Battalion, A.I.F. Uckfield, East Essex, U.K. : The Naval & Military Press in association with Imperial War Museum, 2009 Wrench, C. M. Campaigning with the fighting 9th (in and out of the line with the 9BN A.I.F.) 1914-1919 Brisbane : Boolarong Publications for 9th Battalions Association, 1985. "Our Boys at the Front", Northern Territory Times and Gazette Thursday, 11 May 1916 p.7 |
Do you have further information for this ANZAC? Please send the Library an email
