JAMES, George Ronald (1893-1951)
JAMES, George Ronald (1893-1951)
George Ronald James was born on 2 July 1893, the son of Captain George Henry James and Elizabeth Britomart nee James.
He was enrolled at Geelong College as a boarder in 1907 with an entry address of 'Belmont', Grey St, East Melbourne. In 1904 he was awarded 1st Prize for Arithmetic in the Lower 4th Class. He left in 1909 (Upper IV Class).
He enlisted (No 19916) in the AIF on 13 March 1916, originally as a Driver with the 8th Field Artillery Brigade (31st Battery). James embarked for France on HMAT A7 Medic on 20 May 1916. He was discharged from the army on 17 March 1917 in order to take a commission in the Royal Flying Corps.
The Geelong Advertiser in February 1918 reported:
'Lt Cecil James, son of Major James, and an Old Geelong Collegian, writing to his aunt, Mrs A Holden, states he was in the Military Hospital, Rouen, suffering from shell shock. He was improving, and going to London shortly. His brother, Lt Ronald James, is in France and is one of an aeroplane bombing party.'
James' flight training was initially at Central Flying School, at Upavon, Wiltshire, then at the School of Military Aeronautics at Exeter College:
George James died on 4 August 1951.
His brother, Cecil Holman James (1891-1965), was also educated at Geelong College.
George Ronald James was born on 2 July 1893, the son of Captain George Henry James and Elizabeth Britomart nee James.
He was enrolled at Geelong College as a boarder in 1907 with an entry address of 'Belmont', Grey St, East Melbourne. In 1904 he was awarded 1st Prize for Arithmetic in the Lower 4th Class. He left in 1909 (Upper IV Class).
He enlisted (No 19916) in the AIF on 13 March 1916, originally as a Driver with the 8th Field Artillery Brigade (31st Battery). James embarked for France on HMAT A7 Medic on 20 May 1916. He was discharged from the army on 17 March 1917 in order to take a commission in the Royal Flying Corps.
The Geelong Advertiser in February 1918 reported:
'Lt Cecil James, son of Major James, and an Old Geelong Collegian, writing to his aunt, Mrs A Holden, states he was in the Military Hospital, Rouen, suffering from shell shock. He was improving, and going to London shortly. His brother, Lt Ronald James, is in France and is one of an aeroplane bombing party.'
James' flight training was initially at Central Flying School, at Upavon, Wiltshire, then at the School of Military Aeronautics at Exeter College:
George James died on 4 August 1951.
His brother, Cecil Holman James (1891-1965), was also educated at Geelong College.
Source
Pegasus Oct 1909 p6; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. pp 224-225 (citing Pegasus; National Archives); Geelong Advertiser, 2 February 1918.