![J.N. MCANNA. WWI Pair, Lieut. of the 42nd Bn. [WM13-46] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/WM13-46-McAnna-James-Newson-1.jpg)
Description
British War Medal, edge impressed “LIEUT. J.N. MC ANNA. A.I.F.”
Victory Medal, edge impressed “LIEUT. J.N. MC ANNA. A.I.F.”
A ‘stock standard’ WWI pair to an officer with a nice history with the Cadets and Citizen Military Forces, medals mounted on a board, basically as issued.
Born on the 15th March 1895, James Newson McAnna was the son of Mrs Margaret and Mr John McAnna and was raised in Adelaide, South Australia, attending the public school St. Peter’s College in Adelaide and later Kyre College where he studied engineering. As a young adult, he worked as a Mechanical Engineer, beginning his career with an apprenticeship for four years with the company ‘W.C. Whitehill’, a small engineering business established in 1910 by Charles Whitehill and located on Church Street. Further, James was a Junior Cadet for three and a half years before being a Senior Cadet for a further several years – first for one year with the 78th Infantry as Sergeant, then another one year six months with the 78a Infantry, the last 6 months of which was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant (rank confirmed February 1913). He was then transferred to the Citizen Military Forces as 2nd Lieutenant which he served with for 2 years 8 months until he applied for a commission in the Australian Imperial Force on 8th December 1915. Judging by his service records, James was not given a commission and was assigned the rank and number Private 1735 upon his formal attestation on the 2nd June 1916, and was posted to the first reinforcements to the 43rd Infantry Battalion.
- Embarked immediately post formal attestation from Adelaide aboard H.M.A.T. ‘Afric’ on 9th June 1916, disembarked at Southampton 24th July 1916, posted to 11th training battalion
- Proceeded to France 25th November 1916, T.O.S. to 43rd Battalion
Despite not being given a commission, James was promoted with relative haste:
- To be Lance Corporal 30th November 1916
- To be Sergeant 13th December 1916
- To be 2nd Lieutenant 17th January 1917
- To be Lieutenant 30th May 1917, relinquishing his service number.
On the 5th January 1918, James was attached to the Australian Corps School as an assistant instructor and spent most of the year in this capacity, rejoining the 43rd Battalion on the 10th October 1918 until the end of the war the following month. Thereafter, he served in A.I.F. headquarters and attended an engineering course at the ‘British Insulated & Helsby Cables Ltd.’ on 17th March 1919.
James returned to Australia aboard H.M.T. ‘Devon’, embarking from Southampton on the 8th October 1919 and later discharged from the A.I.F. on the 16th January 1920. He returned to civilian life and married Ms. Ruth Ryrie McAnna on the 22nd September 1922. At the age of 74, James passed away and was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery, predeceasing his wife who passed in 1977.
