Wyndham History

James William McTigue (1894-1974)

Item

Placeholder image - Veteran.png

Dublin Core

Type

Title

James William McTigue (1894-1974)

Contributor

Date

1914

Publisher

Wyndham City Libraries

Format

text

Language

eng

World War One Veterans Item Type Metadata

Name

James William McTigue

Birth Date

Birthplace

Service Number

157

Enlistment Date

Next of Kin

Michael McTigue
Werribee, Victoria
[Father]

Address at time of Enlistment

Werribee, Victoria

Occupation

Marital Status

Single

Death Date

Place of Burial

Unknown

Biographical Text

No.157  Lance Sergeant James William McTigue
William James McTigue was born to Michael and Ellen Mary (nee Mackey) McTigue in 1894, Footscray, Victoria. He had the following siblings:
  • Percival Michael
  • Thomas John
  • Margaret Ellen Theresa
  • Anastasia Florence
  • Mary Jane
  • Francis Peter
  • Frances Irene
War Service
William enlisted into the Army at Melbourne, Victoria on 20 August 1914. He used his middle name as his first name – James William McTigue, when he enlisted on his papers. He was aged 20 years and 1 month and he was 5 feet ten inches tall. William weighed eleven pounds and had a chest measurement of thirty three to thirty six inches. His complexion was listed as fair, with yellowish eyes, and brown hair.
All of this was recorded at the time of his enlistment.

His service number was 157 and he embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on 19 October 1914 for Alexandria, Egypt.  He was promoted from a Private to Lance Corporal on 23 November 1915 with the 4th Light Horse Regiment.

James transferred to the Cyclist Corps on 20 March 1916.  Three days later he was promoted to Corporal and was then taken on strength by 1st ANZAC Cyclists. James then was promoted to Lance Sergeant on 9 November 1917. From 10 December 1917, he had a stint of leave to Paris, late December and then Boulogne late March.

James transferred to the 5th Battalion on 22 April 1918, and then was taken on strength to fight from 27 April 1918 until he was wounded in action on the field on 2 May 1918. He suffered a gun shot wound in the left Arm and was moved to Boulogne on 3 May 1918.

James was then sent to England on 11 May 1918, where he stayed in hospital until 14 June 1918.  James proceeded back overseas to France on 22 August 1918.  He returned to Australia on 28 September 1918 on Transport duty and embarked for Australia on 8 October 1918. His records indicate he was a Sergeant when he was discharged on 31 January 1919.

His older brother Frank died on 13 October 1915, in Hughenden Queensland, aged 27 years and three months. 
A death notice was published in The Age, 13 October 1915.

Post War
In 1924, James married Eileen Hubbert in Victoria and on 23 January 1925, in Northcote Victoria, a son James Edward McTigue, was born.

James'  father died on 3 August 1925 in Werribee, Wyndham City, Victoria. According to a report in the Werribee Shire Banner, 6 August 1925, p.5. it was an accidental death at work, while excavating a drain he fell in the ditch and hit his head on a beam on the way down.

James' son, James Jnr, also joined the Army to fight in World War 2. His service number was 430607.

James and Eileen's, eldest son James married Joan Patricia Geddes in 1953.  A report and photograph of the bride and groom is in The Advocate (Melbourne) 18 June 1953, p.14.

James applied for the Anzac medal and was living at 36 Moore St South Yarra, this was a letter noted in his Base War Records. No date was on the letter from James.

Electoral rolls recorded that James, Eileen and their son James  were living at 36 Moore Street South Yarra in 1954.

James' mother died on 4 January 1942 at her residence, 9 Lucerne Street Mentone, Victoria.

James died in 1974 in Victoria, Australia.

Medals and Entitlements:
  • 1914/1915 Star - 29 July 1920
  • British War Medal - 20 June 1921
  • Victory Medal - 5 December 1925

Bibliography

War records
AIF project
recorded name as James William McTigne http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/index.html

Ancestry
http://search.ancestry.com.au

Family Tree record quotes that James William McTigue’s mother is Ellen Mary(McMahon) Carley

National Archives of Australia http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/

Medals and Entitlements

1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Citation

“James William McTigue (1894-1974),” Wyndham History, accessed September 28, 2023, http://www.wyndhamhistory.net.au/items/show/2479.

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