James Toohey,
soldier and survivor
When Gunner James Toohey left Brisbane in 1915 he was only 19.
Undated notebook kept by James Toohey containing addresses, accounts and poems. Image No: 28848/3 From James Toohey Collection
A telephonist with the Post Office department, he celebrated his 20th birthday in France where he was deployed to establish and maintain communication services with the 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade. He returned a much-decorated soldier.
His war diaries describe the voyage on board the RMS Osterley from Sydney to Egypt in 1916, and his experiences in the Western Front as a gunner and a linesman.
Studio portrait of an unidentified soldier with James Toohey, 1914-1918 Image No: 28848-0006-0001 From James Toohey Collection
Reverse side of James Toohey's British War Medal (Military Medal) 1914-1918 depicting St.George, naked on horseback, trampling a Prussian shield, skull and crossbones. Image no: 28848-0004-0001 From James Toohey Collection
James saw active service in France and Belgium. He became proficient in the use of semaphore, flags and signal lamps, Morse code buzzer or heliograph, as well as field telephones and switchboards. His duties as a gunner also included exercising and feeding the horses, subbing as a kitchen orderly, as well as relieving in the firing lines.
He was awarded the Military Medal for his actions on 28th June 1918, near Merris in Northern France.
In July 1918 Gunner Toohey was awarded the Military Medal for his courage and devotion to duty and, in October of the same year, was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).
James was engaged on the upkeep of communications between the forward Artillery Observation posts and Battalion Headquarters. Through a heavy artillery barrage he displayed great bravery and ability.
For three hours he kept the lines of communication open assisting in the success of the operation.
You can see the complete digitised record of James' recommendation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal at the Australian War Memorial website.
Queenslander Pictorial, supplement to The Queenslander, 15 August, 1914. From the War Zone, Caption: From the western war area. A much bombarded old windmill near Armentieres. Photo by Wyndham.Caption: Every inch a king. The valliant king of the Belgians, the idol of his country, and the object of the admiration of the world, inspecting his brave troops on the sands of a Belgian coast town. Central News - photo. Image No: 702692-19150306-0021
Excerpt from undated notebook kept by James Toohey containing addresses, accounts and poems. Image No: 28848/3 From James Toohey Collection
James, seemingly both romantic and pragmatic, began one page of his notebook with stirring poetry:
"Although I cannot clasp your hand Or speak my greetings true Your heart I know will understand How mine remembers you If you love me as I love you Though lightning flash and storms may thunder No earthly power however great Can ever tear our hearts asunder"
immediately following it with a, presumably medicinal, brandy recipe:
"One bottle best Australian Brandy. Pour out about 3 inches and fill the bottle with common salt. Shake for ten minutes. Let stand for 12 hrs then every morning take 1 tablespnful with four or six of boiling water. Drink as hot as possible fasting."
James returned to Australia on 20 April 1919.
After the war James Toohey worked as a postman in the Greenslopes and Coorparoo areas of Brisbane before retiring at the age of sixty. He married Nora Burke in 1924 and had ten children.
He died in 1964.
James was one of the Queenslanders featured in the Distant Lines exhibition in the SLQ gallery.
Wedding photograph of James Toohey and Nora Burke., 14 June 1924, Image No: 28848/8 From James Toohey Collection
Photograph of James Toohey in his later years, Undated, Image No: 28848/7 From James Toohey Collection
