The AIF Project

Frank Vernon JAMES

Regimental number412
Place of birthBrompton, South Australia
ReligionMethodist
OccupationCarpenter
AddressPort Road, Bowden, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 9"
Weight158 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Florence Ida James, Port Road, Bowden, South Australia
Previous military service77th Bn, Senior Cadets (still serving at time of AIF enlistment).
Enlistment date7 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll30 June 1915
Place of enlistmentKeswick, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentCorporal
Unit name32nd Battalion, B Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollSergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularAppointed Sergeant, 11 July 1917.
FateReturned to Australia 1 April 1919
Discharge date6 July 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Australia, 18 November 1915, on board HMAT 'Geelong'; disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915.

Found guilty, Moascar, of neglect of duty: reprimanded.

Found guilty, Tel el Kebir, of failing to have walls of tent rolled at proposer time: reprimanded.

Appointed Sergeant, 26 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 19 July 1916 (gun shot wound, right shoulder and leg); admitted to 1st Casualty Clearing Station, 20 July 1916; transferred to 14th General Hospital, Wimereux, 20 July 1916; to England, 23 July 1916, and admitted to 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, 24 July 1916; to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 1 September 1916. Marched in to 8th Training Bn, Codford, 30 September 1916.

On Command, NCOs' School, Tidworth, 14 February 1917; marched in to 8th Training Bn, Hurdcott, from NCOs' School, 24 March 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 25 April 1917; rejoined Bn in the field, 14 May 1917.

Wounded in action (second occasion), 29 September 1917 (shrapnel wound, left knee, right buttock, scalp), and admitted to 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, 29 September 1917; transferred to Ambulance Train No 5, and admitted to 2nd Canadian General Hospital, 30 September 1917; discharged to No 3 Convalescent Depot, 12 October 1917; to Base Depot, 31 October 1917; rejoined Bn in the field, 14 November 1917.

Accidentally injured near Desoles (railway), 16 December 1917 (lacerated right leg and scalp); admitted to 3rd Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne; discharged to 7th Convalescent Depot, 30 December 1917; to Australian Infantry Base Depot, Havre, 7 January 1918; rejoined Bn, 29 January 1918.

Court of Enquiry, 28 December 1917, concluded: 'The train was under the sole control of the French railway authorities and no blame whatever is attached to the troops on the train.'

Detached to Corps Gas School, 10 February 1918; rejoined Bn, 20 February 1918.

On leave to the United Kingdom, 2 March 1918; rejoined Bn from leave, 19 March 1918.

Wounded in action (third occasion), 29 July 1918 (gun shot wound, hip), and admitted to 14th Australian Field Ambulance; transferred same day to 20th Casualty Clearing Station; to Ambulance Train No 38 and admitted to 3rd General Hospital, 30 July 1918. transferred to England, 2 August 1918, and admitted to Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, 3 August 1918; to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 6 September 1918; discharged to Littlemore Camp, No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 18 September 1918 .

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Shropshire', 1 April 1919; disembarked, 14 May 1919; discharged, 6 July 1919.

Total war service abroad: 3 years 178 days.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death11 September 1958

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