James Waddell (French Foreign Legion)
Encyclopedia
James Waddell was one of New Zealand
’s most highly decorated soldiers of the First World War. Born in Dunedin
he attended Canterbury College in the evening to prepare for, and win, the first New Zealand government military scholarship. In 1895 became the first New Zealander to pass the open examination for an officer's commission in the British Army.
He gained entry to the British Army
in 1895 and was commissioned into 2nd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) West Riding Regiment seeing service in Natal
and India. Unfortunately he was heavily bullied by his upper class colleagues because of his colonial status. He subsequently met and married a French woman, and she helped Waddell earn the unusual honour of a commission in the French Foreign Legion
on 25 April 1900. After early service in the Boxer Rebellion
, Algeria and French Indo-China, Waddell landed at Gallipoli
as a company commander in the in 1915. He soon distinguished himself by his courage and tenacity and was awarded the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and the Croix de guerre
on 4 July 1915 for bravery in leading his battalion
in a costly attack against Turkish trenches on 21 June.
Waddell subsequently served on the Western Front and was promoted to Officier of the Legion of Honour on 10 June 1917 for his actions on the Somme where his personal example helped carry an attack on the village of Belloy-en-Santerre. It was during this battle that the American poet, Alan Seeger
, died. Later, (Major) Waddell was in command of the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment de Marche de la Legion etrangere (R.M.L.E.) during the Champagne attack in April 1917.
By the end of the War, he had been awarded the Croix de guerre
seven times and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Described as ‘a courageous leader and one of the most respected of all the Legion's officers’, Waddell was promoted to the Commandeur of the Legion of Honour in 1920. He served in Tunisia until retiring in 1926, but remained in North Africa until returning to New Zealand
in 1950. James Waddell died at Levin
in 1954 and is buried in the RSA
section of the Levin
cemetery.
Note that the "headstone" is a memorial, while the bronze plaque marks the grave in the military service part of the cemetery. While the plaque indicates 5 bronze palms were awarded; the correct number is 7 (thus the Croix de guerre was won eight times at the highest level, that of citation at the army level). He is mentioned prominently in the book "American Fighters in the Foreign Legion, 1914–1918" Paul Ayresw Rockwell, Houghton Miffli Company, NY, 1930.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
’s most highly decorated soldiers of the First World War. Born in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
he attended Canterbury College in the evening to prepare for, and win, the first New Zealand government military scholarship. In 1895 became the first New Zealander to pass the open examination for an officer's commission in the British Army.
He gained entry to the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1895 and was commissioned into 2nd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) West Riding Regiment seeing service in Natal
Colony of Natal
The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on May 4, 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its...
and India. Unfortunately he was heavily bullied by his upper class colleagues because of his colonial status. He subsequently met and married a French woman, and she helped Waddell earn the unusual honour of a commission in the French Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
on 25 April 1900. After early service in the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
, Algeria and French Indo-China, Waddell landed at Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
as a company commander in the in 1915. He soon distinguished himself by his courage and tenacity and was awarded the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
on 4 July 1915 for bravery in leading his battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
in a costly attack against Turkish trenches on 21 June.
Waddell subsequently served on the Western Front and was promoted to Officier of the Legion of Honour on 10 June 1917 for his actions on the Somme where his personal example helped carry an attack on the village of Belloy-en-Santerre. It was during this battle that the American poet, Alan Seeger
Alan Seeger
Alan Seeger was an American poet who fought and died in World War I serving in the French Foreign Legion. A statue to his memory and to...
, died. Later, (Major) Waddell was in command of the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment de Marche de la Legion etrangere (R.M.L.E.) during the Champagne attack in April 1917.
By the end of the War, he had been awarded the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
seven times and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Described as ‘a courageous leader and one of the most respected of all the Legion's officers’, Waddell was promoted to the Commandeur of the Legion of Honour in 1920. He served in Tunisia until retiring in 1926, but remained in North Africa until returning to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1950. James Waddell died at Levin
Levin
Levin may refer to many things:In people:*Levin is a common Jewish surname, indicating descent from the tribe of Levi. For people with the surname Levin or Levina, see Levin .In places:...
in 1954 and is buried in the RSA
Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association
The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association, often referred to as the Returned Services' Association but best known simply as the RSA, is one of the largest voluntary welfare organisations in New Zealand and one of the oldest ex-service organisations in the world.Wounded soldiers...
section of the Levin
Levin
Levin may refer to many things:In people:*Levin is a common Jewish surname, indicating descent from the tribe of Levi. For people with the surname Levin or Levina, see Levin .In places:...
cemetery.
Note that the "headstone" is a memorial, while the bronze plaque marks the grave in the military service part of the cemetery. While the plaque indicates 5 bronze palms were awarded; the correct number is 7 (thus the Croix de guerre was won eight times at the highest level, that of citation at the army level). He is mentioned prominently in the book "American Fighters in the Foreign Legion, 1914–1918" Paul Ayresw Rockwell, Houghton Miffli Company, NY, 1930.
List of honours
-
Commandeur de la Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(France) -
Croix de GuerreCroix de guerreThe Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
(France)