Born in Ballarat and a carpenter by trade, James Batch was 26 years and single when enlisted on the 21st of July 1915 in the 7th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement, Australian Imperial Force, with the rank of Private, Number 3260. His Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A71 Nestor on the 11th of October 1915. Gunshot wound foot at Epsom on the 9th of September 1916. Admitted to 16th Field Ambulance Scabies Wareham on the 2nd of May 1917.Wounded in action in France on the 23rd of July 1917 gunshot wound France. On the 29th of May 1918 admitted to Causality Clearing Station suffering with shell wound left arm. Invalided to U.K. shot wound left arm and was listed as returned to Australia per 'D28' for change gunshot wound left arm on the 20th of October 1918. Discharged 3rd Military District UK on the13th of February 1919. Tree No.1729