Lot Essay
O.B.E. London Gazette 1.1.1923.
M.C. London Gazette 31.5.1916 'For conspicuous gallantry. He fought his guns in the firing line under very heavy fire and although one gun was knocked out and there were many casualties, he held his ground when the Infantry temporarily fell back. On another occasion he did fine and gallant work'.
Mention in Despatches London Gazettes 5.6.1919 (Mesopotamia) and 12.6.1923 (Waziristan).
Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Harley James, O.B.E., M.C., was born in February 1883 and was educated at Tonbridge School. Commissioned into the Indian Army in August 1902, he served as Adjutant of 104 Wellesley's Rifles from 1908-12, in which period he was employed in the Las Bela Column in the Mengal Rising and in the Mekram Expedition. Having been advanced to Captain back in August 1911, he was next attached to the Bombay Volunteer Rifles as Adjutant from 1912-14.
The outbreak of hostilities in August of the latter year found him re-employed as C.O. of the Volunteer Maxim Gun Company in East Africa, a posting that would lead to him witnessing considerable action and being awarded the M.C. for his gallantry at Taveta while employed in General Tighe's 2nd East African Division in the Latema-Reata operations of March 1916.
James had previously fought at the engagement at Gazi on 7.10.1914, when a 300-strong German force under Baumstark was driven back after two assaults, in addition to the ill-fated attack on Sulaita Hill on 12.2.1916, when his Volunteer Maxim Gun Company gave excellent covering fire to the 2/Loyal North Lancashires and 130th Baluchis, even when faced by a German Askari bayonet charge that resulted in the mule transport stampeding.
Following his tour of duty in East Africa, which ended in May 1917, James returned to 104 Wellesley's Rifles as a Company Commander in the Mesopotamian Field Force on the Euphrates Front, in which capacity he served until March 1918, when he was appointed Second-in-Command of the 52nd Sikhs. With the latter Regiment he participated in the attack on Fateh Position at the end of September 1918. He was Mentioned in Despatches.
Yet more active service followed between the Wars, James acting as Second-in-Command of the Mhow Composite Battalion on 'riot duty' in April-May 1919, prior to his appointment as Second-in-Command of 104 Wellesley's Rifles for the Waziristan operations of 1919-22, in which campaign the Regiment sustained casualties of eight killed and 25 wounded. James was again Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the O.B.E.
Advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1926, he became C.O. of Wellesley's Rifles in the same year and served in that capacity until being placed on the Retired List in September 1930.
M.C. London Gazette 31.5.1916 'For conspicuous gallantry. He fought his guns in the firing line under very heavy fire and although one gun was knocked out and there were many casualties, he held his ground when the Infantry temporarily fell back. On another occasion he did fine and gallant work'.
Mention in Despatches London Gazettes 5.6.1919 (Mesopotamia) and 12.6.1923 (Waziristan).
Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Harley James, O.B.E., M.C., was born in February 1883 and was educated at Tonbridge School. Commissioned into the Indian Army in August 1902, he served as Adjutant of 104 Wellesley's Rifles from 1908-12, in which period he was employed in the Las Bela Column in the Mengal Rising and in the Mekram Expedition. Having been advanced to Captain back in August 1911, he was next attached to the Bombay Volunteer Rifles as Adjutant from 1912-14.
The outbreak of hostilities in August of the latter year found him re-employed as C.O. of the Volunteer Maxim Gun Company in East Africa, a posting that would lead to him witnessing considerable action and being awarded the M.C. for his gallantry at Taveta while employed in General Tighe's 2nd East African Division in the Latema-Reata operations of March 1916.
James had previously fought at the engagement at Gazi on 7.10.1914, when a 300-strong German force under Baumstark was driven back after two assaults, in addition to the ill-fated attack on Sulaita Hill on 12.2.1916, when his Volunteer Maxim Gun Company gave excellent covering fire to the 2/Loyal North Lancashires and 130th Baluchis, even when faced by a German Askari bayonet charge that resulted in the mule transport stampeding.
Following his tour of duty in East Africa, which ended in May 1917, James returned to 104 Wellesley's Rifles as a Company Commander in the Mesopotamian Field Force on the Euphrates Front, in which capacity he served until March 1918, when he was appointed Second-in-Command of the 52nd Sikhs. With the latter Regiment he participated in the attack on Fateh Position at the end of September 1918. He was Mentioned in Despatches.
Yet more active service followed between the Wars, James acting as Second-in-Command of the Mhow Composite Battalion on 'riot duty' in April-May 1919, prior to his appointment as Second-in-Command of 104 Wellesley's Rifles for the Waziristan operations of 1919-22, in which campaign the Regiment sustained casualties of eight killed and 25 wounded. James was again Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the O.B.E.
Advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1926, he became C.O. of Wellesley's Rifles in the same year and served in that capacity until being placed on the Retired List in September 1930.