The AIF Project

James Thomas AIRD

Regimental number4630
Place of birthHastings, Tasmania
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
Address53 Moubray Street, Albert Park, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation28
Height5' 5"
Weight160 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs E.M. Aird, 53 Moubray Street, Albert Park, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date17 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll17 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name8th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/25/5
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 28 January 1916
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll58th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 18 July 1919
Discharge date30 October 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 28 January 1916; disembarked Suez, 28 February 1916.

Taken on strength of 58th Bn from 2nd Training Bn, Ferry Post, 1 April 1916.

Admitted to No 15 Field Ambulance, 2 April 1916 (venereal disease: gonorrhoea); transferred to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 2 April 1916; to No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, 2 April 1916; to No 4 Hospital Train, 3 April 1916; to No 1 Australian Dermatological Hospital, Cairo, 3 April 1916; discharged, 28 June 1916; transferred to 14th Training Bn, 29 June 1916.

Taken on strength of 5th Divisional Details, Tel el Kebir, 9 July 1916.

Embarked Alexandria, 2 August 1916; taken on strength of 15th Training Bn, 8 August 1916; marched into 15th Training Bn, Larkhill, England, 21 August 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 2 November 1916; marched into 5th Australian Divisional Base Details, Etaples, 3 November 1916.

Proceeded to unit, 16 November 1916; taken on strength of 58th Bn, 20 November 1916.

Admitted to No 15 Field Ambulance, 18 December 1916; transferred to No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital, 20 December 1916 (conjunctivitis); to Ambulance Train, 22 December 1916; to No 4 General Hospital, 23 December 1916; to No 6 Convalescent Depot, Etaples, 1 January 1917; discharged, 3 January 1917, and marched into 5th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, the same day.

Proceeded to unit, 10 January 1917; rejoined 58th Bn, 13 January 1917.

Promoted Lance Corporal, 29 April 1917.

On leave to United Kingdom, 16 October 1917; rejoined unit, 28 October 1917.

Admitted to No 8 Australian Field Ambulance, 29 October 1917 (venereal disease: gonorrhoea); transferred to No 2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, 30 October 1917; to No 47 General Hospital, Le Treport, 31 October 1917; to No 39 General Hospital, Le Havre, 2 November 1917; discharged, 2 December 1917, and marched into 5th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Le Havre, the same day; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 35 days.

Proceeded to unit, 11 December 1917; rejoined 58th Bn, 15 December 1917.

Detached to Army Signal School of Instruction, 3 January 1918.

Admitted to No 15 Casualty Clearing Station, 11 January 1918 (scabies); discharged, 9 February 1918; rejoined 58th Bn, 12 February 1918.

Wounded in action, 26 April 1918; admitted to No 14 Australian Field Ambulance, 26 April 1918 (gassed); transferred to No 20 Casualty Clearing Station, 26 April 1918; to No 14 Ambulance Train, 28 April 1918; to No 1 General Hospital, Etretat, 29 April 1918; to No 1 Australian Convalescent Depot, Le Havre, 8 May 1918; discharged, 17 May 1918, and marched into Australian Intermediate Base Depot, Le Harve, the same day.

Proceeded to unit, 24 May 1918, and rejoined 58th Bn the same day.

Promoted Corporal, 24 September 1918.

On leave to United Kingdom, 18 October 1918; rejoined unit, 3 November 1918.

Proceeded to United Kingdom for non-military employment, 2 March 1919; disembarked Southampton, 12 March 1919; marched into Australian Army Service Corps Depot, Parkhouse, 13 March 1919.

Granted leave with pay from 14 March 1919, until 13 June 1919, to work as a ship builder at Vickers Ltd, Barrow in Furness; leave extended, 14 June 1919; leave extended, 28 June 1919.

Detained for duty at South Pancras Station, 2 July 1919, and to report to depot, Sutton Veny, 7 July 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Takada', 18 July 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 7 September 1919; discharged (termination of period of enlistment), 30 October 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death11 July 1968
Age at death84
Place of burialSpringvale Cemetery
SourcesNAA: B2455, AIRD James Thomas

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