SPITTLE, James Neyland (1896-1961)James Neyland Spittle was born in 1896, the son of John Spittle and Sarah Pringle nee Neyland. He was enrolled at Geelong College in February 1910 departing in December 1912. His address at enrolment was Karyrie Station, Birchip.
During World War I he enlisted (No 4199) in the AIF on 2 September 1915, embarked for Egypt on
HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 7 March 1916, and then France, becoming a Company Quarter Master Sergeant with 2 Machine Gun Battalion. In France he was wounded, as described in a letter written by his cousin, Dvr S G Spittle, MM, to his family on 28 April 1918:
'I had a letter from Jim Spittle during the week. He has his left arm fractured with a machine gun bullet, which passed on into his ribs, I was glad to know he was not serious. He is in a hospital in Norwich, England, so should be good enough for another six months over there, and by that time things should be much quieter over here. I have not seen Archie since the 13th inst. His battalion are at present in the line, but as soon as they come out I must look him up, as Jim is anxious for me to post him up with progress reports of Archie’s welfare.' His brother,
Archibald Andrew Spittle (1898-1968), referred to as 'Archie' above was also educated at Geelong College.
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) Collection holds a photograph of ‘troops of the 2nd MG Battalion marching through the streets of Bray on their way to a camp in the transport lines further ahead, including Sgt J N Spittle (4199)’. He returned to Australia, embarking on 5 July 1919.
Sources: Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p317 (citing S G Spittle MM, The War Correspondent: Letters from the Great War; The Pegasus; National Archives; AWM E03118).