Bergmann LMG15 n.A. Machine Gun : Captain E H James, 1 Australian Light Car Patrol, AIF

Bergmann LMG15nA aircraft machine gun. All blued steel construction, apart from the wooden top carry handle, chequered pistol grip and butt. The barrel is finned and has a slotted cover jacket. Right hand feed mechanism and cocking lever. The bottom section of the action has a circular locking lug to fit a standard MG08/15 bipod. The top cover is engraved 'L.M.G.15 n.A' with the serial number and on the right side 'BERGMANNS INDUSTRIEWERKE ABT WAFFENBAU, SUHL'. The barrel jacket has been cut and re-welded under the top carry handle.

Associated with the service of Captain Ernest Homewood James. James was born in Melbourne on 2 November 1879 and was an engineer on enlistment in the First Australian Armoured Car Section on 16 March 1916. With the rank of Lieutenant, James embarked for overseas service aboard HMAT Katuna on 20 June, arriving in Suez on 9 August. He was promoted to captain on 1 January 1917 and commanding officer of 1 Australian Light Car Patrol.

Two different versions exist as to how this machine gun came to be in James' possession. In a personal account of the incident James indicates that this weapon was removed from a German aircraft that landed at a captured enemy aerodrome at El Afule on 20 September 1918. He stated: 'While we were engaged on this (filling the tanks of the armoured cars) a German aeroplane unsuspectingly landed in the aerodrome and the pilot was promptly made a prisoner to his surprise and anger. Shortly afterwards another plane was seen to be landing but just as he reached the ground something aroused his suspicions and he rose again. One of our armoured cars promptly opened fire on him then and the pilot was killed. The observer was wounded in the head and taken prisoner. He told us afterwards that it was the felt hats of the Australians in the aerodrome that made them suspicious that something was wrong'.

However when the gun arrived at the Australian War Memorial it had a label that stated: 'This very rare World War 1 German Aircraft Machine Gun was taken from a crashed German Bi-Plane which was shot down from the ground with a 303 rifle used by Captain Ernest Homewood James. The plane with tail gunner already dead was flying low when Capt. James shot the pilot dead. The gun was brought back as a souvenir in his kit bag'.

Both accounts indicate that the gun was taken from the second aircraft. The welded barrel shows that it was cut in half so that it would fit into a kit bag.

After the war, James was awarded the Military Cross in the 1919 New Years Honours List for 'continuous good work in command of his unit when he has shown marked zeal and ability, especially when acting with cavalry reconnaissances.' He was awarded a bar on 8 March 1919. His bar citation noted that 'At Aleppo, on the 24th and 25th October, 1918, he displayed great dash and perseverance in the way he attacked and drove the enemy cavalry off the hills south of the town. He so disposed his care that he held a strong force of enemy in check and denied them the crest and observation. All through the operation he displayed courage and resource.'

James embarked aboard the Kaiser-i-Hind at Port Said on 16 March 1919 for return to Australia. He disembarked in Victoria on 23 June and his appointment in the AIF was terminated on 29 October 1920.