Next of kin plaque : Major James Doherty, 7th Field Artillery Brigade, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'JAMES DOHERTY'.

Born in Sydney, New South Wales in 1888, James Doherty was educated at Fort Street Boys School and Sydney University. He was employed as a company secretary when he enlisted in the AIF on 3 September 1915 and already had experience in the artillery due to his service in the Citizen Forces with the 5th Howitzer Battery and 14th Battery of the Australian Field Artillery, where he was currently serving as a second lieutenant.

Doherty was immediately appointed a second lieutenant in the AIF and travelled to Melbourne where he embarked aboard HMAT A2 Hororata on 27 September, with the 10th Reinforcements to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. In Egypt, in March 1916, he transferred to the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade's 102nd Howitzer Battery. He was appointed lieutenant in April, and in May moved to France with his battery, for service on the Western Front.

Doherty was promoted captain at the beginning of 1917. He was mentioned in despatches on 7 March. For his actions in saving the lives of men and horses while under fire at Le Peuplier near Caestre on the night of 28/29 April Doherty was awarded a Military Cross. On 31 July he received a gunshot wound to his lower left leg at Sanctuary Wood, near Dickebusche in Belgium and was evacuated to England for medical treatment. Doherty was discharged from hospital in September and attended training courses at Perham Downs before rejoining his battery in November. He was awarded a bar to his Military Cross for an action at Wyschaete Ridge in Belgium on 14 January 1918 where he stopped the spread of fire in a gunpit containing gas shells.

Doherty was promoted major in May 1918, when he transferred to the 7th Field Artillery Battery. He was slightly wounded during action on the Hindenburg Line at the end of September but elected to remain on duty. Doherty was given permission to travel to London on private business in February 1919. He contracted influenza there and was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth where he died from pneumonia on 26 February. He is buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery at Pirbright in Surrey.

This commemorative plaque was sent to Doherty's widowed mother, Mary, in December 1922.