| Regimental number | 146 |
| Place of birth | Port Melbourne, Victoria |
| School | Ashby State School, Victoria |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | 12 Queen Street, Geelong, Victoria |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 25 |
| Height | 5' 6" |
| Weight | 136 lbs |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs J Nitchie, c/o Mrs Collins, Queen Street, Geelong West, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Served for 4 years in the Royal Australian Navy. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Geelong, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 8th Battalion, A Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/25/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A24 Benalla on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 60th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fromelles, France |
| Age at death | 27 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 27 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 21), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 170 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Louis and Clara NITCHIE; husband of Rebecca Saville GORDON, 151 Corio Street, Geelong East, Victoria. Native of Port Melbourne, Victoria |
| Family/military connections | Brother: 2426 Leslie Hector NITCHIE, 23rd Bn, killed in action, Pozieres, France, 4 August 1918. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Embarked Aexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915. Admitted to hospital, Gallipoli, 18 July 1915; rejoined Bn from hospital, 21 July 1915 (no further details recorded). Admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance Dressing station, Anzac, 30 August 1915 (diarrhoea), transferred same day to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, and thence to 26th Casualty Clearing Station, Imbros; to Base, 2 September 1915, and thence by HS 'Scotian' to Malta, 10 September 1915 (enteric and debility); admitted to St Patrick's Hospital, Malta, 19 September 1915; transferred to Ghain Tuffieha Convalescent Camp, 14 September 1915; invalided to England, and admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital, Egbaston, Birmingham, 8 October 1915 (sick: severe). Marched in to Base Depot, Weymouth, 29 November 1915. Disembarked Alexandria from England, 13 January 1916; rejoined Bn, Tel el Kebir, 14 January 1916. Transferred to 60th Bn, and taken on strength, 24 February 1916. Found guilty, 6 March 1916, of being absent without leave from 3 pm, 3 March, until apprehended by Provost Staff at Benha Station 2200, 3 March 1916: awarded forfeiture of 2 days' pay; forfeited 1 day's pay under Royal Warrant. Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, 8 April 1916 (conjunctivitis); transferred same day to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station (defective vision); to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, 10 April 1916 (concussion, blindness); to No 4 Hospital Train, and admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital, 14 April 1916; discharged to Base details, Tel el Kebir, 22 April 1916; rejoined Bn, Duntroon Plateau, 26 April 1916. Charged with malingering, 4 May 1916: case dismissed; insufficient evidence to convict. Embarked Alexandri to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported missing, 19 July 1916. B103 note: 'Died. Effects in German Hands being reported as Killed in Action.' Note on file: 'Austr. Sold. Nitchie, J.L. 60. Batl. Am 19.7. in Gegend Fromelles gefallen.' Note, Red Cross File No 20104018: 'Prisoner of war Died 19-7-16 ... Personal effects Cert. by - German List dated 13-9-16.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Miscellaneous details | Next of kin address subsequently (1926): Mrs R.S. GORDON, 151 Corio Street, Geelong East, Victoria |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, NITCHIE James Louis
Red Cross File No 20104018 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
