James August Kane was the son of Peter Kane of Merton. Peter has featured in this blog before - he featured in the murder and suicide involving the McPhee family of Caversham, before James' birth.
James joined the Canterbury Infantry Regiment and wasn't the best of soldiers. His records show him being punished in Featherston Camp for overstaying leave and in France for falling out during a route march. Further offences are recorded after his return to New Zealand.
He was wounded in action on August 11, 1917. At that time the CIR was in the line in France and being shelled heavily by the Germans. The Official History of the CIR describes it: "Meanwhile, the 2nd Battalion had left Neuf Berquin on July 19th, and had returned to its old quarters at Romarin, from where it supplied working-parties to the front line. After the capture of La Basse Ville, it carried up the wire and standards required by the Pioneer Battalion for the work of wiring in front of the new positions. On the night of August 5th/6th, the battalion relieved the 2nd Otago Battalion in the outpost line at La Basse Ville and to the left of that village, having the 1st Canterbury Battalion on its immediate right.
"The 13th Company occupied the newly established posts to the east and north-east of La Basse Ville, with company headquarters in the village; and on its left the 1st Company held other new advanced posts, with company headquarters in what had been the front line before the capture of the village. The 12th Company was in support, in the neighbourhood of Au Chasseur Cabaret, while the 2nd Company, in reserve, occupied the old German trench-system near St. Yves, Battalion headquarters was still further back, in the deep dug-out underneath St. Yves post office.
The conditions of weather and mud were the same as the 1st Battalion was experiencing, but as the enemy's shelling was concentrated mainly on La Basse Ville and its immediate neighbourhood, the 2nd Battalion's casualties were heavier than those of the 1st Battalion. Inter-company reliefs took place every three days: particulars of these, and the reliefs of the 1st Battalion, will be found in Appendix "B,"
"In the middle of the spell in the line the enemy's artillery fire slackened considerably on the 1st Battalion's area; but the 2nd Battalion had no respite, and it was the general opinion that this period in the line was the worst in its experience on an inactive front. For the twelve days in the line the casualties were one officer (Captain M. J. Morrison, M.C.) and thirty-three other ranks killed, one officer and one hundred and thirteen other ranks wounded, and thirty-five other ranks evacuated to hospital."
James was wounded in the arm, leg and thigh and found himself in the New Zealand hospital at Brockenhurst in England. He was classified as unfit for service by a Medical Board in October, 1917, and left for home on January 19. 1918. He was at the convalescent hospital on Quarantine Island in the Otago Harbour in August of 1918 when he is recorded as "Disobeying a lawful command given by his Superior Officer...at 11am, 25/7/18 refused to continue heavy fatigue, (to wit carrying material from wharf to buildings) when ordered by SM Rendall." He was given 24 hours' detention and forfeited three days' pay.
INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC
RAVAGES IN DUNEDIN.
THREE DEATHS IN HOSPITAL.
REASSURING MEDICAL STATEMENT.
The number of cases of influenza in the Hospital were increased by half a dozen yesterday, and three of the patients died, their names being James Kane, Charles Bourke, and James O'Leary. Over 80 patients suffering from influenza are still in the Hospital, including a large number of nurses. The Hospital authorities say that they will be able to manage to find accommodation for a day or two yet. -Otago Daily Times, 15/11/1918.
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| Hawksbury Cemetery, Waikouaiti. |
James had three brothers who also served - in all, four of the fourteen sons of Peter and Margaret Kane went to the war.
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