The AIF Project

James Walter COVERLEY

Regimental number5346
Place of birthBunbury, Western Australia
SchoolState School, Western Australia
ReligionCongregational
OccupationLabourer
Address30 Francis Street, Perth, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation35
Next of kinMother, Mrs S A Coverley, 30 Francis Street, Perth, Western Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date4 March 1916
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name16th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/33/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A60 Aeneas on 17 April 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll16th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 11 April 1917
Place of death or woundingBullecourt, France
Age at death36
Age at death from cemetery records36
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsAustralian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
79
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Commemorated in Trinity Uniting (formerly Congregational) Church, Perth, Western Australia. Memorial consists of two arched stained glass windows (inscription left: 'I will not fail thee nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage'; inscription right: 'I have fought the good fight. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.' Centred beneath the windows is a small brass plaque: 'World's War. Commenced 4th August 1914. Armistice signed 11th November 1918. Peace signed 28th June 1919. In the cause of truth combined for the freedom of mankind.' Beneath the windows and flanking the plaque left and right are two larger brass plaques bearing the names of members of the parish who served in the war. Those who died are marked with an asterisk and the words 'These died for us'. Parents: John and Sarah COVERLEY, 267 Rokeby Road, Subiaco, Western Australia
Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

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