Lieutenant James Sutherland Beavis MC

One of the names etched in granite on the Avoca Soldiers Memorial is that of Lieutenant James Sutherland Beavis MC who served with the 39th Infantry Battalion on the Western Front in WWI.

James Sutherland Beavis was born in Dunolly in 1886. However, his home town was Avoca.

He was a member of the Avoca Rifle Club.

James Beavis, a road overseer, enlisted in Ararat on the 27th March 1916. He served with the 39th Infantry Battalion.

The 39th Battalion was first formed on 21 February 1916 at the Ballarat Showgrounds. The majority of the battalion’s recruits came from the Western District of Victoria. Following a brief period of training in Ballarat, the 39th Battalion marched through Melbourne on 15 May as the city farewelled the unit and they subsequently embarked upon HMAT Ascanius on 27 May 1916, bound for the United Kingdom. Sailing via Cape Town, the battalion landed at Plymouth on 18 July 1916, and moved by train to Amesbury, before marching to Larkhill in the Salisbury Plain Training Area, where they undertook a period of four months training before being sent to France in November.

On the night of 10 December, the battalion took its place in the trenches along the Western Front, relieving its sister battalion, the 37th, around Houplines in the Armentieres sector. They remained at the front for the next week, as part of their introduction to trench warfare, during which time the battalion repelled a small German raid and sent out patrols into “no man’s land”.

Group portrait of the officers of the 39th Battalion at Neuve Eglise on 23 January 1918.
Lieutenant J. S. Beavis MC is in the back row on the far left
From the Australian War Memorial
Accession Number E01524

The 39th fought in its first major battle at Messines, in Belgium, between 7-9 June 1917. During its march to the start-line for this operation the battalion suffered heavily from a German gas bombardment and less than a third of the troops earmarked to attack actually did so. The battalion, however, captured all of its objectives.

Lieutenant Beavis was wounded three times, 7 June 1917, 1 December 1917, and 12 July 1918.

Below is a description of the events on the 3rd December 1917 for which Lieutenant Beavis was awarded the Military Cross:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a raid on the enemy, he was leader of the flank storming party and led his men with splendid dash and excellent judgement. He was the first to enter the enemy trench and did not leave until the last of his party had withdrawn. On several occasions, he rendered invaluable service in reconnoitring the ground in front of the enemy line, and supplied information which materially assisted in the success of the whole operation.

Lieutenant Beavis was wounded three times, 7 June 1917, 1 December 1917, and 12 July 1918. He died of wounds in France on the 13th July 1918.

Avoca Mail, Friday 19 July 1918, page 2

LIEUT. JAMES S. BEAVIS.
Killed in Action.
Profound regret was expressed on all sides when it became known that Mr and Mrs Jas. Beavis were notified last evening, through the Rev. Reynolds, that their son Lieut. James S. Beavis has been killed whilst in action in France. It is only a couple of weeks since a cablegram announced that this young soldier had been awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in the battle field. Lieut. Beavis was a young man held in the highest esteem by all, who will deeply deplore his death and extend to the bereaved relatives sincere sympathy. A brother Pte John Beavis is on active service in France.

He is buried in St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, Picardie.