James Carmichael was the son of George Carmichael and Elizabeth Ann Carmichael (nee Anderson), Thornbury, Southland, New Zealand.

Extract from 20 Armoured Regimental History, p. 358:

'On 29 December 5 Troop was to be relieved by the reserve troop. While moving up to the Fontegrande ridge from the Orsogna road the leading tank slid off the tract while trying to avoid a dead mule. The next tank blew up on what the engineers later believed to have been a triple Teller mine on a ratchet. The belly was blown out of the tank, the turret lifted, and the gun jammed over the driver's hatch. The turret was immovable, the tank on fire. Two of the turret crew were wounded and the driver, Trooper Carmichael, and spare driver, Trooper Dawson, were both killed.' AWMM