The Caldwell Brothers – a soldiers story

The following biographies have been researched by – Dave Spain

3638 PTE James Caldwell was born in Kanowna on or about January 1896.  He enlisted in Perth, Western Australia, on the 23^rd of March 1917.  His Father was James Jonas Caldwell and his Mother was Charlotte Caldwell nee Gardner.  They resided at 68 Padbury St, Perth.  It appears he increased his age by 1 year on his final enlistment medical.  He was 5ft 7 inches tall (170cm) and weighed 148 lbs (68kg).  He was of fair complexion with grey eyes and light brown hair. His religion was Church of England.  His occupation was a shop assistant and he was single.

PTE J Caldwell embarked from Fremantle on the 29^th of June 1917 and arrived at Plymouth on the 25^th of August 1917 on the HMAT A30 (the Borda).  He attended basic training at the 13^th Training Battalion located at Codford in England.  He was trained as a Signalman. On the 5^th January 1918 he attended a course on signals with the 4^th Divisional Signals School at Codford. On completion of the course, he was sent to Folkstone with the 12^th Training Battalion to reinforce the 49^th Australian Infantry Battalion on the 15^th April 1918.  He marched into the Australian Infantry Base Depot (AIBD) on the 19^th April 1918 located at Étaples, France.  He was then transferred to Havre on the 20^th May 1918 and on the 26^th May 1918, he joined the 49^th Australian Infantry Battalion which was in the Somme area at that time.

During a battle on the night of the 11^th August 1918, he received a gunshot wound to the back.  He was found on the battlefield and rescued.  He was carried to the 55^th Casualty Clearing Station and sent to the 47^th Australian General Hospital on the 13^th August 1918.  On the 24^th August 1918, he was sent to the 1^st Australian Infantry Depot on recovery.  PTE J Caldwell was returned to the 49^th Australian Infantry Battalion on the 11^th September 1918.  On the 29^th September 1918 he was detached to the 13^th Brigade Signals School located at Havre, France.  On the 4^th November 1918, he re-joined 49^th Australian Infantry Battalion at Havre.   On the 11^th November 1918, hostilities ceased.

PTE James Caldwell remained in France until the 9^th March 1919 in the Havre area in France with the 49^th Infantry Battalion and then was attached to the AIBD.  He performed burial duties during this time.  He was repatriated to England on the 11^th June 1919.  On the 12^th July 1919 he embarked on the City of Exeter for Australia and disembarked in Fremantle on the 16^th August 1919.  On the 1^st March 1920, Pte James Caldwell was discharged in the 5^th Military District (Western Australia).

3638 PTE James Caldwell claimed his Medals and Badge.

The British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The wounded Badge – Photo AWM Canberra

6795 PTE John ‘Jack’ Caldwell – was born in Kanowna on or about March 1899.   He enlisted in Perth on the 12^th March 1917.  His Father was James Jonas Caldwell and his Mother was Charlotte Caldwell nee Gardner.  They lived at 68 Padbury St, Perth. The parents moved to 143 Lake St, Perth, sometime in 1918.  It also appears that James and John Caldwell joined the AIF at about the same time.

PTE John Caldwell was a clerk and was single.  His Religion was Church of England. He was 5ft 6 inches (159cm) tall and weighed 132lbs (60kg). He had a dark complexion with grey eyes and dark hair.  It appears PTE Caldwell increased his age by 1 year and his mother approved his request to serve overseas under the age of 19 in a letter to his Commanding Officer.

On the 29^th June 1917 he embarked on the HMAT A30 (the Borda) and disembarked at Plymouth England on the 25^th August 1917.  On the 26^th August 1917, he attended basic training with the 7^th Training Battalion followed by further training with the 6^th Training Battalion on the 11^th November 1917.  On the 7^th April 1918 he was sent overseas to the Australian Infantry Battalion Depot located at Havre in France and proceeded join his unit, the 28^th Infantry Battalion, on the 10^th April 1918.  During the following 4 months, Pte John Caldwell fought with the 28^th Infantry Battalion in several battles in the Bapaume, Saint-Quentin and Peronne area in France.  He was killed in action on Monday the 2^nd September 1918.  He is buried in the Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension in the Somme Region of France.

John ‘Jack’ Caldwell – Photo Ancestry.com

The British War Medal, The Victory Medal.  The Memorial Scroll.
The WW1 Memorial Plaque – Photo AWM Canberra

Family History: When both boys were born their father, James Joseph Caldwell, was still married to Janet Caldwell nee Davidson. They had one child, Harold Ralph Caldwell born 1892 in Victoria. This child remained in Victoria. James and Janet divorced in 1901 and James and Charlotte Gardner (Gardiner) were married in Kalgoorlie in 1902. Both boys give their place of birth as Kanowna although I can not find a birth registration for either boy. They had three other siblings as well as a half brother.

Pearl Mary Gardner born 1895 NSW
Edith Isabel Phylis Caldwell born Kanowna WA 1897
John ‘Jack’ Cauldwell born Kanowa WA 1899
James Cauldwell born Kanowna WA 1900
Herbert Joseph Mascot Caldwell born Kanowna WA 1904

James Jonas Caldwell – Father of the two boys – Photo Ancestry.com

Charlotte Caldwell nee Gardner Mother of the two boys – Photo Ancestry.com

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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