MASSINA, Carroll James

Carroll James Messina, known as Jim, was born in Slaty Creek, near St.Arnaud , Victoria in July, 1890, the son of William and Agnes Massina. By the age of 25, he was living at 162 Powlett St., East Melbourne, with Delia and Louis Massina, probably an uncle. There were two other members of the Massina family in East Melbourne then: Victoria Teresa,also living at 162 Powlett St and Edith Elizabeth Massina, at 86 Wellington Parade. he also had a brother, William Alexander, who also enlisted.

Jim Massina enlisted on 25 May, 1916. In June, he was in training with the Field Artillery Brigade at Broadmeadows, but was then posted on to the Signals School at Bendigo, before being sent on to Maribynong with the Field Artillery Reinforcements. On 11 October, 1916, he was appointed as a gunner with the 7th Field Artillery Reinforcements.

On 25 October, 1916, he left Melbourne with thee other members of the 7th Reinforcements on HMAT 'Ulysses' A38, disembarking at Plymouth on 20 December. Here he underwent further training, before being sent to France on 16 May, 1917. Here he was placed with the 12th Autralian Field Artillery Brigade, 45th Battery, part of the 4th Division which had been formed at Suez in January, 1916. Moved to France, in August 1916, they had relieved the 2nd Division at Pozieres, then at Mouquet Farm, and at Flers. By mid 1917, the big battles of the war to push the German troops back were being fought in Belgium.

In April, 1917, the 4th Divison assaulted the Hindenburg Line in the first Battle of Bullecourt. In June, they were at the Battle of Messines. This was when Jim Massina joined them, as a signaller to the operators of the six Howitzer guns used to break up the enemy positions. Messines lasted from 7-14 June, so he would have been in the thick of the action. Then they moved on to Polygon Wood, again in the Ypres sector, and it was somewhere here that Jim Massina was killed in action.

Driver C.M. O'Brien gave evidence of his death: ' ... I knew him pretty well. he came from Victoria. He had no special trade. He was a signaller. We were at Dickebusch on 19th Sept. We were in action at the time. Massina was sent to repair a wire about 20 yards in front of the Battery. I saw him hit fair by a shell - his head was smashed up; he was unrecognisable. I went to his Funeral. He was brought down from the wagon lines and buried in a military cemetery about 1/2/ mile from Dickebusch. I saw a cross put up with his name etc. on it. He was in a grave by himself. The Padre of the 12th Brigade H.Q. buried him.'

Driver G. Brown: Massina was in my sub-section on the 45th Battery. His initials were C.J. and he was called Jim ...He was a signaller and telephonist in the battery. He was a big, dark man, clean shaven, about 25 and nearly 6 foot. He was killed by a shell on 19th Sept., near Zellebeeke, while mending telegraph wires near his gun position and his body was brought down to the wagon lines near Dickebusch and buried there. I was present at his funeral.'

Carroll James Messina was buried at The Huts Military Cemetery, miles south-west of Ypres. He is remembered in the AWM 145 Roll of Honour Cards and on Panel 17 of the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.