Born: 25 August 1880
Died: 11 December 1969
A surveyor who enlisted in the AIF on 28 August 1914 who went on to have highly distinguished service in the AIF and in the Australian Military Force (AMF). He prepared the following is a summary of his military service.
"James Montagu Christian Corlette, C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D., Chevalier de la Legion d''Honneur, B.E., M.Inst.C.E., M.I.E.Aust. : Lieutenant-Colonel, C.R.E., 2nd Australian Divisional Engineers, A.I.F., Gallipoli, Egypt and France.
Mobilised 3rd August, 1914, as O.C. 39th Fortress Coy. Engineers, A.M.F., Newcastle, was appointed captain (hon. major) 1st Field Coy. on 25th and, sailing 18th October, served at Gallipoli from the Landing until invalided in September, 1915, having been in command of coy. from 26th July. In March, 1916, appointed to organize and command 4th Pioneer Battn. and in May transferred to Engineering Training Depot at Tel-el-Kebir. On 29th July transferred to 2nd Australian Engineers in France, joining them at Albert during 1st Somme Battle and in August attached to Chief Engineer as Staff Officer at Abeele. On 4th July, 1917, appointed C.R.E. to command 2nd Australian Divisional Engineers, serving until demobilisation. Promoted major, 26th July, 1915; lieutenant-colonel, September, 1916. Made a C.M.G. in 1919. Awarded D.S.O. 1st January, 1918, and Chevalier de la Legion d''Honneur. Mentioned in Despatches five times.
A.M.F. : Commissioned 1st May, 1906, resumed command 39th Coy. and 2nd Divisional Engineers as Colonel, 1919, and since 1926 in command of 1st Infantry Brigade, being promoted Brigadier in January, 1932.
Chief Engineer, Hunter District Water Supply and Sewerage Board. President, The Institution of Engineers Australia, 1930. Early education at Sydney Grammar School." (Source: Beyond 1914 — The University of Sydney and the Great War.)
He embarked for Australia on 10 May 1919 and arrived on 1 July 1919. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on 31 August 1919. [JSB]
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