Updated James Basil Minchin- gave a speech at WA Military History Society 18/02/20

JAMES BASIL MINCHIN #358

James Basil Minchin (b.1894) went from a simple farm boy who had disciplinary problems when he first joined the Army, to become, in Charles Bean’s words, an ‘outstanding leader of an outstanding battalion’ . He landed on the morning of April 25, 1915 at Gallipoli and, for the next three and a half years, didn’t suffer a wound. He won the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), the Military Cross (MC) and was Mentioned In Dispatches (MID) twice . He returned home to the farm, married and had a son, but by the end of the 1920s was asking for a pension and died a terrible death at the young age of 42, mourned deeply by all who had known him. His father, born in the colony mid-century, had been one of 5 Minchin boys to marry 5 Hitchcock girls . James had 11 siblings, and one of his elder brothers, Joseph Henry (b.1881) had enlisted in the WA contingent that went off to the Boer War (1899-1901), and he joined up again on his return to Western Australia (WA). (Picture of Joseph Henry Minchin (1881-1917) in WW1) (Credit www.boerwarwa.org.au) Though born in Middle Swan, he had moved at a young age to the farming area of Balkuling, near the township of Beverley. Here he grew up a smaller than usual Minchin , being only 5’5 ½’’ and under 10 stone at enlistment . But no doubt physical labour and fresh country air had kept him fit. And maybe the tales told by his big brother of war and far-off lands made him enlist at Helena Vale, WA on 29/09/1914 . The 16th Battalion was designed as a combined WA/South Australia (SA), part of the 4th Brigade commanded by John Monash. Its commander was Colonel Pope, a West Australian . After training at Black Boy Hill at the foothills of the Darling Range the WA contingent took ship for Melbourne, to meet up with the SA companies. Minchin was in ‘A’ Company.

(Picture of James Basil Minchin at Black Boy Hill camp c1914. He is standing behind the bugler. discoveringanzcs.naa.gov.au) After some more Brigade wide training and a public march, the 16th embarked for 6 weeks at sea before reaching Egypt. Here there was more training, soon replaced by another sea journey and then the famous landing at Gallipoli on April 25th, 1915 . The 16th fought its way up what would be called Monash Gully and took up a fighting position at Pope’s Hill, overlooking some Turkish positions but, in its turn, being overlooked by others. Constant fighting and sniping took a heavy toll on the 16th . Not for the last time Minchin emerged without a scratch. In the local newspaper the Swan Express Friday 3rd of November 1916 an article on Minchin at the landing at Gallipoli from his boat Minchin tripped and fell into the water going under with all his equipment. That involuntary bath was the only one he was destined to have the next five weeks from that period in the trenches without relief that be absolutely close in which you landed and even his face he was only able wash twice in that time he fought right through the goodly campaign emerged unscathed without a single day’s illness he was present at the evacuation and was engaged for a couple of months in patrol duty on the Suez Canal where was promoted to Corporal. Casualties had meant quick promotion for many at Gallipoli. Minchin had missed out but from now on he rose rapidly . Promoted to corporal in Egypt 22/03/16, he went to France with the 16th in June 1916 and took part in major fighting on the Western Front. In 1916 Minchin received two letters of commendation from Major General Cox, one for great gallantry as bombing leader at Mouquet farm August 29 3916, and his second ‘for continuously good and gallant service’. By February 1917 he was selected for officer training in Oxford, England with the 4th Officer Cadet Battalion. The 6 months there must have been a welcome respite. It also meant he missed the slaughter at Bullecourt that decimated the 16th. Re-joining the 16th on 22/08/17 he took part in the Battle of Passchendaele and was awarded an MC for his actions on 26/09/17 . The MC was in recognition of his good work during the operation at Zonnerbecke of September 26. While in the support line both before and after the attack, he was placed in charge of various carrying parties to the front line. On one of these occasions, having to proceed with his party to the front line of the adjoining sector of very difficult and unknown ground, and through very heavy enemy barrage, it was entirely due to his splendid coolness and ability to handle large parties of men under dangerous circumstances that he was able to bring his men back with a minimum of casualties. Also throughout the attack he especially distinguished himself by his fine leadership, coolness, personal example in control of his platoon at all time showed absolute disregard of personal safety. On arrival at the redline (our objective) he again distinguished himself in the work of consolidation and the great assistance he rendered in assisting to reorganise the company under heavy shellfire. The success of his company is largely due to his fine example and good work. More honours were to come. At the famous Battle of Hamel on 04/07/18 Minchin, by now a full Lieutenant, had to take command when his company commander was mortally wounded . After his great mate Thomas ‘Jack’ Axford single-handedly wiped out the machine guns on their flank , Minchin led his company forward, killing and capturing the enemy in great numbers and reaching their destination point. For this he received his DSO . Axford’s VC citation reads ‘recommended for the very highest distinction for his very conspicuous gallantry and initiative during the operations against Vaire and Hamel Woods east of Corbie on the morning of 4 July 1918. When the barrage lifted and the inventory advance commenced, a platoon of which Axford is a member was able to reach the first enemy defences through gaps, which had been cut in the wires. The adjoining platoon got delayed in the uncut enemy barbed wire. This delay enabled the enemy machine guns to get into action, and enable them to inflict a number of casualties among men struggling through the wise, including the Company Commander who was killed. Axford, with great initiative and magnificent courage at once dashed to the flank, threw his bombs amongst machine-gun crews; followed up his bonds by jumping into the trench and charging with his bayonet. Unaided he killed 10 of the enemy and took six prisoners; he threw the machine guns over the parapet and called out to come on. He them rejoined his own platoon and fought with it during the remainder of the operations. Prior to the incidents above mentioned, he assisted the laying of the tape jumping opposition, which was within 100 yards of the enemy. When the tapes were laid he remained out as a special patrol to ensure the enemy did not discover any unusual movement on our side. His initiative in gallantry undoubtedly saved many casualties, and most materially assisted towards a complete success of his company the task assigned to it. Axford had been previously awarded the Military Medal on the 25th April, 1918’- Anzac Day. The citation for Minchin’s DSO reads ‘for conspicuous gallant conduct during operations against Vaire and Hamel Woods, east of Corbie on the morning of 4 July 1918. He led his platoon in the first wave of the attack. On striking the first enemy positions west of Vaire Wood, strong opposition was encountered. He personally killed one Officer and several other men, and the balance, including one officer and 20 other ranks, he captured. This encounter took one machine-gun and one minenwerfer. In his next advance he encountered a machine-gun nest near the south end of the copse in front of Vaire Wood. He again led his men in an impetuous charge. Some six of the enemy were killed, two of whom the Lieutenant himself accounted for. The balance of the crews, also the guns were captured. At this stage he discovered his company commander had been killed. He thereupon assumed command of his Company: superintended its operation, and brilliantly completed the task assigned to the company. Throughout the whole operation he set magnificent example of gallantry and leadership. At the Battle of Amiens beginning 08/08/1918 Minchin was involved in an action involving tanks between Morcourt and Mericourt-sur-Somme. His tank was hit and he was recorded, initially, as being wounded. This was later removed from his record but he was clearly shaken and sent back to Paris on 01/09/18. He stayed here for the rest of the 100 Days. At war’s end, Basil went back to farming around Balkuling. He married Jean McDonald in 1922 and they had a son . By the late 1920s, however, bad health was affecting him, and he asked for, and received, a pension due to his war service . He had lost the farm and was living in Beverley. What Basil had was syphilis . He refused to admit this when asked, even when he returned a positive test in 1931 . Finally, he admitted getting a syphilitic sore on his genitals in November 1916 in Mametz, France, but he had not reported it and not treated it . It had lain dormant for a decade, but his finals years were terrible. By October 1934 his wife said to a visiting doctor that ‘for the past 3 months he had had to be fed, clothed and looked after like a child’ . Surrounded by his close family, death came on 01/11/1936. His great mate Jack Axford was one of his pall bearers.

(James Basil Minchin and fellow officers c1918. He is holding the child-not his own! www.discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au)

(Lieutenant James Basil Minchin and his men c1918. They were referred to as Minch’s Ragtimes www.discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au)

(Letter from James Basil Minchin 1928 seeking a pension for his ill-health NAA PP2/8 M13982) (Medical certificate of the cause of death for James Basil Minchin NAA PP2/8 M13982) APPENDIX I DECORATIONS MC This officer is brought under notice for coolness and capable leadership near Zonnebecke on 26th September 1917. While in the support line both before and after the attack he was placed in charge of various carrying parties to the front line. On one of these occasions, having to proceed with his party to the front line of the adjoining sector over very difficult and unknown ground., and through a very heavy enemy barrage, it was entirely due to his splendid coolness and ability to handle large parties of men under dangerous circumstances that he was able to bring his men back with the minimum of casualties. Also throughout the attack he specially distinguished himself by his fine leadership, coolness, personal example and control of his platoon. He at all times showed absolute disregard for personal safety. On arrival at the Red Line (our objective) he again distinguished himself in the work of consolidation and the great assistance he rendered in assisting to reorganise the Company under heavy shell fire. The success of his Company is largely due to his fine example and good work. He is strongly recommended for high distinction. London Gazette 19/11/1917 DSO Is brought to notice for conspicuous gallant conduct during operations against Vaire and Hamel Woods, east of Corbie on the morning of 4th July 1918. He led his platoon to the first wave of the attack. On striking the first enemy positions west of Vaire Wood, strong opposition was encountered. He personally killed one Officer and several other men, and the balance, including one Officer and 20 other ranks, he captured. In this encounter he took one machine gun and one heavy minenwerfer. In his advance he next encountered a machine gun nest near the south end of the copse in front of Vaire Wood. He again led his men in an important charge. Some 6 of the enemy were killed, two of whom Lieutenant Minchin himself accounted for. The balance of the crews, also the guns were captured. At this stage he discovered his Company Commander had been killed. He thereupon assumed command of his Company: superintended its operations, and brilliantly completed the task assigned to the Company. Throughout the whole operation, he set a magnificent example of gallantry and leadership. He is very strongly recommended for distinction. London Gazette 15/10/1918 Appendix II This essay had to be cut dramatically because there is so much information. There are 166 pages in Minchin’s medical file alone, and I had to struggle to get this part of his life considering his immense and long war record. This contributed greatly to my anxiety as I felt this man deserved as good as essay as I could do. Sorry for its lateness! Rob Smith BIBLIOGRAPHY Primary Sources National Archives of Australia – B2455 MINCHIN JAMES BASIL (Service file) PP2/8 M13982 (Medical File) TROVE newspapers- BEVERLEY TIMES SUNDAY TIMES SWAN EXPRESS Secondary Sources Bean, C.E.W., OFFICIAL HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA IN THE WAR 1914-18 Vol.VI ‘The AIF in France 1918’ (Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1942) Carlyon, Les, GALLIPOLI (Pan MacMillan Press, 2001) ‘’ ‘’ THE GREAT WAR (Pan MacMillan, 2006) Gill, Ian, BLOODY ANGLE, BULLECOURT AND BEYOND- 16TH BATTALION AIF 1914-19 (2008) Hatwell, Jeff, NO ORDINARY DETERMINATION- PERCY BLACK AND HARRY MURRAY OF THE FIRST AIF (Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 2005) Longmore, Capt. C., THE OLD SIXTEENTH (1929) Minchin-Camm, Dorothy, THE BOOK OF MINCHIN- A FAMILY FOR ALL SEASONS (Trafford Publishing, 2006) Howie-Willis, Ian, ‘The Australian Army’s ‘Traditional’ Diseases: Gonorrhea and Syphilis- A Military-Medical History During the Twentieth Century’ in JOURNAL OF MILITARY & VETERAN’S HEALTH (Vol.27, Issue 1, 01/01/2019) pp.11-22