Private James Frederick Bettles
- Rank
- Private
- Appointment
- Australian Army 1917 Western Front
- Service number
- 6966
- Unit
- 11 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Belgium
- Date of death
- 20 September 1917
- Age
- 33
- Plaque number
- M548A
- Co-located plaques
- M548 - PTE Peter Yore
- M548B - PTE Frederick Dudley
- Dedicated by
- His family on 12 November 2022
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
James Frederick Bettles was born at Midland Junction, Western Australia in August 1885 to parents Richard and Jane Bettles. He was one of three siblings.
James enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in September 1916 at Pinjarra; he was 32 years of age and worked as a mill hand at North Dandalup. He was married to Ada Lelia, with whom he had two daughters and a son at the time of his enlistment.
James embarked from Fremantle in December 1916 with the 23 reinforcements attached to 11 Infantry Battalion. He arrived at Devonport, England in the February of 1917 where he conducted further training before being sent overseas to France in June 1917 to join his battalion in the field.
In early September 1917, James and his battalion was sent from the Somme region to Hazebrouck in the northern sector of France near the Belgium border. This was in preparation for an offensive operation, of the Third Battle of Ypres, the Battle of Menin Road.
On 20 September 1917, the opening day of the battle, James’ battalion was sent forward in the attack of Menin Road. The advancing Australians had to overcome entrenched German defensive positions which included concrete pill-box strong points. James exact fate is unknown during this attack. The Australians sustained over 5,000 casualties in the Battle for Menin Road between 20-25 September 1917.
Private James Frederick Bettles, service number 6966 of 11 Battalion, was killed in action on 20 September 1917 at Menin Road, Ypres Belgium. He was 33 years of age.
He had no known grave but is commemorated of the Menin Gate Memorial Ypres, Flanders Belgium and he is remembered with honour.
His plaque is located alongside comrades who died on the same day, Private Peter Yore and Private Frederick Dudley.