James Nathaniel Woolley and Review of the Roll of Honour Projections at the Australian War Memorial

It is timely to write about James Nathaniel Woolley. Earlier tonight Mum, Dad, Rachel, Ruth, Roger, Olivia, Layni Cleo and I went to the Australian War Memorial to see the name of WOOLLEY, J.N. projected above the Hall of Memory. Mum had called me during the day to say that maybe we should try and park together.  That wasn't an issue as we were the only people watching on this particular evening. It was freezing!

The Roll of Honour Projection is one of the ways in which the Australian War Memorial (AWM) is commemorating the Centenary of the First World War. During the year "the name of each of the 62,000 Australians who gave their lives during the First World War will be projected onto the façade of the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial. The names will be displayed from sunset to sunrise every night, and can be seen from the Memorial’s grounds. Each name will be visible for 30 seconds." See http://www.awm.gov.au/1914-1918/roll-honour-name-projections/

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was quite nice to see the WOOLLEY name appear on the AWM. We found the information from the AWM (website and phone conversation) sadly lacking, so I was keen to write a few hints here. However, the whole process is extremely simple. Because it is only projecting the names at night, the underground carpark off the southern end of Limestone Avenue will always have spaces!  The timing on the AWM website was pretty accurate, but you need to be ready with your camera, because 30 seconds barely gives enough time to focus. The best place to view is at the end of the steps. Any closer and you don't see the name; any further away and you can't read the name. It is worth being a few minutes early just to set yourself up. (As we were leaving, Cleo was surprised: she thought we were going to the War Memorial, so why are we driving away after such a short visit!  It was funny, but I guess you had to be there). Unfortunately I had forgotten to put my disk back into my camera, so could only take photos on my mobile! I'm going to return again for a better photograph... I would recommend visiting the display - particularly if you know of a person who gave their life.

Standing outside the War Memorial, remembering James Woolley.

So, who was James Nathaniel Woolley?

James Nathaniel (Jim) was the seventh of eleven children born to Margaret McCutcheon and Nathaniel Woolley. He was born in September 1878 in a place called Seacliffe, Otago, New Zealand.  It is 30 kilometres north of Dunedin. It seems most likely that his father was working on the construction of a large mental institution in Seacliffe. His parents had met in Australia and their first three or four children were born before they went to NZ. When he was 11, all the family returned to Australia and they settled in Camperdown, Sydney.  At the age of 14, his mother died: Jim's youngest sibling was only six. It is not known what sort of father Nathaniel was to his 11 children, but possibly Mary, the eldest sibling, assumed some responsibility for the younger children. It doesn't appear that the 11 siblings were particularly close, especially some of the males. That being said, Jim was the best man at his younger brother's wedding in 1905. 

Jim's father died on 21 August 1912. By this time Jim was working as a Labourer and despite being over 30, had not married. We don't know anything more about his personal circumstances!

When Australia joined the war with Britain, Jim enlisted.  He was part of the 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion, 4th reinforcements.  In his enlistment papers he advised that his next of kin was Mrs A Fisher, his youngest sister, Gertrude. He listed his sister and brother in law's address as his current abode. On 10 April 1915 he left Australia on board the Argyllshire bound for Turkey, and a piece of land called Gallipoli.

James Nathaniel Woolley was killed in action on 6 August 1915 at The Battle of Lone Pine.  He is buried there (Row M, Grave No. 28).

Lest We Forget.

His personal effects: a prayer book, note book and holdall; were sent to Gertrude on 3 August 1916. Soon afterwards she inserted a death notice in the Sydney Morning Herald. She then wrote to the Government after the war, asking if her brother's medals could be sent to her.  Unfortunately for Gertrude, under the Deceased Soldiers Estate Act of 1918, there were rules about who would receive the war medals in cases where there was no will.  It was first available to wife (if applicable), then parents, then oldest surviving BROTHER.  This meant that although Mrs Fisher was the next of kin, she was not entitled to the medals.  Nor was Mrs Mary Williamson, as the eldest sibling.  

After some investigation by the Special Inquiry Office, it was ascertained that Mr Thomas Woolley was the eldest surviving brother.  A letter was written to him on 13 April 1921 asking whether he objected to Mrs Fisher getting the medals.  He replied on 3 May 1921 that: “for reasons which there is no need to enter into I object to [the medals] being handed over to Mrs Fisher and as person entitled to receive them, would like you to forward them to me.” I suspect that these siblings were not particularly close, and it seems very petty of Thomas to have written such a letter! Their situation is one of the reasons that every person who enlisted in World War II had to finalise a will as part of the enlistment process.

I know this is extremely nationalistic, but I am proud to say that one of our relatives fought and died at Gallipoli.

[Relationship to SNR = Brother of Great-great-grandfather]