James Green was born on 24 January 1876 in Middlesex, England. He died on 7 August 1915 at the "Chessboard" near Pope's Post Gallipoli whilst serving with B Squadron 1st Light Horse.
James Green's family migrated to Australia, where he joined the Royal Australian Artillery in 1894 he served as a gunner until 1903. He was "seconded" as a Lance-Bombardier to the New South Wales Army Medical Corps in 1899 for service in South Africa; leaving with the first New South Wales contingent on the SS Kent, 28 October 1899 (with NSW Lancer Squadron reinforcements). On 8 January 1901 he returned as part of the New South Wales Imperial Contingent. He was promoted Lance-Sergeant on 31 July 1901, then Sergeant 18 September 1901. His medal clasps attest to his participation in the Relief of Kimberley, Wittenberg, Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Driefontein, Paardeberg.
He must have been impressed with the cavalry, leaving the Artillery in 1903 he joined the 1st Australian Light Horse (New South Wales Lancers) and remained with the Regiment when it became the 7th Australian Light Horse (New South Wales Lancers) in 1912; he held the rank of Kings Sergeant in 1914.
With many of his colleagues (the militia Regiment supplied HQ, A and B Squadrons) he joined the 1st Light Horse Regiment AIF on 19 August 1914 as a Corporal, promoted Sergeant on 1 September 1914. He landed with the Regiment on Gallipoli in March 1915. In August he was part of the B Squadron attack on 7 August 1915 from Pope's post across 10 metre of open ground and into a chessboard of Turkish trenches. The squadron was then engaged in a 3 hour inconclusive bomb (grenade) fight with the Turkish defenders. When the squadron withdrew, it had suffered 147 casualties. Sergeant Green died that day. His body was never recovered, his name is on the memorial at Lone Pine.
John Howells 2009
