William James

William Brian "Digger" James (14 May 1930 – 16 October 2015) was an Australian soldier and military physician who served in the Australian Army during the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Early life William James was born in May 1930 in Shepparton, the son of Thomas James, a local orchardist who had emigrated from Ireland. He was educated at Grahamvale State School and Shepparton High School. His lifelong nickname "Digger" pre-dated his military career, having been applied when someone placed a slouch hat on his head at the age of ten months.

Military and medical career Duntroon training At the completion of his schooling, James attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon, from which he graduated in 1951.

Korean War Posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), in 1952 James served as a platoon commander during the Korean War. On 7 November, during the Second Battle of Maryang San (Hill 355), he led a patrol of twelve men to capture an enemy outpost. The group inadvertently entered a Canadian minefield, resulting in the death of one soldier and four injuries, including the loss of James's left foot. Using a shoelace as a torniquet, James then organised the evacuation of his men from the battlefield, radioing for help and waiting three hours before being evacuated himself due to a shortage of stretchers.

Post-war service In 1971, James served with a British St John's Ambulance medical relief team during the aftermath of the Biafran Civil War in Nigeria, for which he became and Officer of the Order of Saint John.

Returning to Australia, James was appointed Queensland state director of Army Medical Services from 1971 to 1975, then AMS director at Army Headquarters from 1975 to 1981. In 1981, he was promoted to major general, and served as director-general of Army Health Services until his retirement from the army in 1984.

An avowed monarchist, James was a member of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy (ACM), and a delegate to the Australian Constitutional Convention 1998.

Personal life James died on 16 October 2015.

Royal Cypher of Queen Elizabeth II all in gold. This form of the cypher is used on applicable uniforms by designated personnel holding appointments to the Queen or her Vice Regal representatives, e.g. Aides de Camp to the Queen, Honorary Physicians to the Queen, etc.