Ref ID: 51662718167
Name
James Alexander Crothers.
Description
Newspaper Photograph of Private James Alexander Crothers.
Life Story
Name: James Alexander Crothers.
Service Number: 1152.
Rank: Private.
Battalion: 18th Battalion.
Regiment: Australian Infantry.
Born: 27th February 1879, Belfast.
Died: 22nd August 1915.
Address: 7 Glenfarne Street, Belfast
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James Alexander Crothers, son of Thomas and Bessie Crothers, is connected to 7 Glenfarne Street, Shankill, Belfast.
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The 1901 Ireland Census has James living at 26 Upper Glenfarne Street, Shankill, Belfast with his mother, father, occupation, Flax Dresser, three brothers, Frederick, 18 years, Apprentice Plumber, Joseph, 11 years, Thomas H, 8 years, and sister Jane, 14 years, Biscuit Packer. His grandmother, Margaret Blessington also lived within the house
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His mother died on the 7th January 1910.
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James married Elizabeth Crothers, Nee Connor, within Saint Annes Church of Ireland Church, Belfast on the 7th January 1911, exactly a year to the day of his mother death. We will never know if this was intentional in the hope of recognising and remembering his mother, however we think it's coincidence should be highlighted.
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The 1911 Ireland Census has his family living at 14 Glenfarne Street, Shankill, Belfast.
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UK Postal Service Appointment Books, 1737-1969, show James as a Post Man.
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His wife's address at time of enlisting is given as 4600 North Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, United States America. James is given as Razorback, New South Wales.
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James joined the Australian Imperial Forces at Liverpool, New South Wales, on the 9th February 1915.
He embarked from Sydney aboard the H.M.A.T Ceramic on the 25th June 1915.
On the 18th August 1915 the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli.
James was a Private in D Company, 18th Battalion Australian Imperial Forces when he was Killed In Action at Hill 60, Gallipoli Peninsula, on the 22nd August 1915 aged 36 year.
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A local newspaper states
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GENERAL BELFAST CASUALTIES.
Information has just been received in the city that Private James A Crothers, Australian Infantry, was killed on 22nd August 1915, at the Dardanelles. Deceased was the eldest son of Mr Thomas Crothers, Glenfarne Street, Belfast, who has three sons and a son in law serving the colours, one of whom belongs to the Canadians. Private Crothers was 19 years a postman in Belfast. In 1911 he emigrated to Australia, and enlisted there when the war broke out. He leaves a wife who resides at Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, U.S.A.
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An Australian War Memorial group portrait of members of D Company, 18th Battalion, taken at the Liverpool, NSW Army camp shows James within it. SASH have highlighted his position within the photograph.
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See brother also: 21995 Corporal Frederick Crothers 11th Battalion Canadian Infantry
See brother also: 27510 Rifleman Thomas Henry Crothers 14th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
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James received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914-1915 Star.
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He is Remembered at Lone Pine Memorial, Turkey.
To Remember Is To Honour
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Theme
Shankill Roll of Honour
Date
1916
Classification
Newspaper, Photograph, - Belfast Telegraph, Belfast Weekly Telegraph, Ballymena Weekly Telegraph, Larne Times.
