A LUCKY DECISION
James & Leslie Inglis- 32nd Battalion

20 year-old farmer James Leonard Forrest Inglis enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on July 12 1915 , being assigned service number 966. Although born in Victoria James was living in Western Australia with his family when war broke out and it was here that he enlisted.

However, James didn't front up to the enlistment office alone; he was joined by his 30 year-old cousin Leslie James Inglis. Also born in Victoria and now living in Western Australia , Leslie had tried to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force in June but had been turned down for having insufficient teeth. This time he was successful and the timber worker was given service number 967.

Both James and Leslie were assigned to the newly created 32nd battalion and after spending several months in camp embarked from Freemantle on the 24th of November, bound for the Middle East travelling on the troop transport ship the Katuna.

Upon arriving in the Middle East the 32nd battalion, which was part of the 8th brigade found themselves part of the newly created 5th Division.

The cousins then travelled with the rest of the Division to the Suez Canal to man the defences there and continue their training. However, while there James and Leslie were split up, with Leslie being mustered to join the newly created 5th Division Artillery, being assigned to the 54th battery of the 14th Field Artillery Brigade.

Soon the troops received word that they would be leaving for France with both James and Leslie leaving on June 19, James travelling onboard the Transylvania and Leslie on the Georgian.

The 5th Division entrained for Northern France and on July 19 were the first Australian Division to see action on the Western Front when they took part in the allied attacks around the German held town of Fromelles .

The 32nd battalion as one of the attacking brigades of the 8th brigade came under intense artillery bombardment from both the Germans and, unfortunately, the Australians with many ‘drop shorts' falling amongst the Australian troops waiting in the trenches. As a result of this incessant artillery bombardment, which some survivors described as like a wall of flame, James began to suffer from shell shock.

However he was able to put this behind him and made it to the German front line with the rest of his battalion, taking the first line and pushing forward in search of their target, the second and third lines of German trenches that didn't actually exist.

Realising that they were looking for something that didn't exist the 32nd and 31st battalions dug in where they were and prepared to fight it out with the Germans. During the night James was shot through the right hand, the bullet perforating his thumb and palm and necessitating the amputation of the little finger.

In discussing his injury later, James said he had only just stood up when the bullet hit him. Had he not done this and remained in a crouched position it may have had a very different outcome, a very luck decision indeed.

The 32nd battalion continued to fight bravely through the night but were eventually forced to withdraw after the Germans surrounded them.

After the battle James was sent to England for treatment on his hand. However the injury wouldn't heal properly and James was still in pain and without the proper use of his hand.

James was sent back to Australia in November 1916, almost a year to the day since he left, being discharged in early 1917.

Following Fromelles Leslie continued to serve with the 14th Field Artillery Brigade throughout the war, returning to Australia in 1919.

Research notes:

1) James Leonard Inglis was the youngest of 11 children born to William and Sarah Inglis (nee Bull)

2) Leslie was one of six children born to David and Louisa Jane Inglis (nee Lee)

3) Both soldiers listed their father's as next of kin.

4) Leslie had 3 brothers also serve, Alexander, David and Norman.

5) Interestingly James' service papers show two different dates for embarkation, the 24/11/15 on the Katuna, as shown above, and 18/12/15 onboard the Geelong .

6) James married Mary Bell in 1920 and passed away in 1987. He is buried in Karrakatta cemetery.

7) Leslie married Janet Palmer in 1929 and passed away in 1943. He is buried in Karrakatta cemetery.

8) It was discovered James still had shrapnel in his hand in 1953 when he had it operated on.

Thank you to Elsie Teede, Paul Cobb and Tim Lycett for their help with this memorial.

Photos:

1) James Inglis, photo courtesy Elsie Teede..

2) Book ends made by James Inglis, photo courtesy Paul Cobb..