James Evelyn Sheather

James Evelyn Sheather was born in August 1890 in Youngel, NSW, to Reuben Sheather and Elizabeth Rosina, nee Sullivan.

On 20th October 1916, he enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 26-year-old labourer from Fairfield, Khancoban, NSW. He was allocated Regimental Number 3132 and placed in the 24th Reinforcements of the 8th Light Horse. James gave his next of kin as mother, Elizabeth Sheather. His brother Edgar had enlisted 15 days before James, and both would end up in the 8th Light Horse and sail on HMAT A25 Anglo-Egyptian on 31st January 1917.

Arriving in Egypt over five weeks later, James marched in and was taken on strength with the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. For almost the next month, he was in the 26th Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, suffering from pneumonia and influenza. Upon returning to duty, he once again found himself transferred to B Squadron, 8th Light Horse at Moascar.

Between the period of September 1917 and October 1918, James would spend approximately seven months in various hospitals suffering from diarrhoea, dysentery or recurring bouts of influenza.

During his enlistment period, he was also a member of the 3rd Light Horse Regiment, being transferred on 18th November 1917. On 8th Juy 1919, he returned to Australia aboard HT Malta, with the rank of Trooper. He was discharged on 14th September 1919 and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service during the war.

In 1924, James married Alice Maria Smith. During their marriage, they had one child: Kevin James Sheather. Throughout their marriage, James and Alice would live in a number of towns. Electoral rolls indicate that between 1934 and 1942, or thereabouts, they lived in Wodonga but had moved to Canterbury by 1949 and Broadmeadows by 1954. James passed away on the 29th November 1959 at Lalor, Victoria and was buried in Fawkner Memorial Park, Fawkner, Victoria.