Elizabeth Britomarte James (1 June 1867 – 6 November 1943), also known as Mrs Britomarte James, was an Australian political reformer, women's activist and temperance advocate.

Early life and marriage

Born on the Victorian goldfields at Durban Lead,

Ballarat Ballarat ( ) is a city in the Central Highlands (Victoria), Central Highlands of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 Census, Ballarat had a population of 116,201, making it the third largest city in Victoria. Estimated resid ...

, Victoria, James was the eldest child of Ebenezer James and Clara Elizabeth James (née Maisey). The family moved to

Port Melbourne Port Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Cities of Melbourne and Port Phillip local government areas. Port Melbourne recorded a populatio ...

where James assisted her father in his work as chaplain at the Mission to Seaman. James married her cousin, George Henry James on 25 May 1889 at her parents' home in Port Melbourne. He was a schoolteacher with the Victorian Department of Education.

War and welfare work

Both her sons enlisted in World War I and were injured. James travelled to England to assist their recovery. Subsequently, they enlisted in the Flying Corps and, rather than returning to Australia, she volunteered with the Red Cross. She was later put in charge of a unit of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in France. After the war she formed the Ex-Service Woman's Association and was its president for a number of years. In 1922 she was president of both the Metropolitan branch of the Farmers' Union and the Wattle League. She was also a leading member of the Victorian Women Citizens' Movement and the Victorian branch of the National Council of Women. James stood unsuccessfully for election to the Council of South Melbourne in 1927. In 1934, James called a meeting at the Lyceum Club in March 1934 at which she proposed the formation of a Centenary Club, being a place to welcome visitors to Melbourne. In the

1938 Birthday Honours The King's Birthday Honours 1938 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight the meritorious work of his subjects in those countries. The appointments were made to c ...

, James was made an Officer of the Order of British Empire for "social welfare services in the State of Victoria".

Personal

James died at Kareela Private Hospital, Auburn, Victoria on 6 November 1943. She was survived by her two sons, Cecil Holman James and George Ronald James. Her husband had predeceased her in September 1938. She is buried in

Springvale Cemetery The Springvale Botanical Cemetery is the largest crematorium and memorial park in Victoria, Australia. It is located in Springvale, in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. History Originally known as The Necropolis Springvale, the cemetery co ...

, Springvale, Victoria.

References

External links

My Personal Reminiscences of the War
by Britomarte James

State Library of New South Wales {{DEFAULTSORT:James, Elizabeth Britomarte 1867 births 1943 deaths Australian women's rights activists Australian social reformers 20th-century Australian diarists Australian temperance activists Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire People from Ballarat People from the Colony of Victoria Australian women of World War I 20th-century Australian women writers