The AIF Project

James Alfred COZENS

Regimental number210
Place of birthHorsham, Victoria
SchoolBerringa State School, Victoria
ReligionMethodist
OccupationPastrycook
Address95 Dover Street, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Height5' 10"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinG Cozens, 95 Dover Street, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed for 2 years in the 5th Regiment, Senior Cadets .
Enlistment date14 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name29th Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/46/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 10 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll29th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles)
Age at death19
Age at death from cemetery records19
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 1), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
115
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: George and Susan COZENS, 142 Coppin Street, Richmond, Victoria
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 10 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 7 December 1915.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked, Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Posted missing, 19/20 July 1916.

'Identification Disc received from Germany. No particulars afforded except the soldier is deceased. To be reported as KILLED IN ACTION, FRANCE 19.7.16. on the authority of Assistant Adjutant General, ANZAC Section from War Office.'

A handwritten note on the bottom of the B.103 (file. p. 3) notes, 'believed buried in vicinity of Fleurbaix, Sheet 36'.

Red Cross File No 820908 has statement by 2769 Pte R.R. TOLL (patient, 11th Stationary Hospital, Rouen), 2 December 1916: '... Cozens was in an attack at Bois Grenier on July 29th when he saw him killed by a shell outside the wire in front of the 1st German trench. Informant states he was about 10 to 15 yards away at the time.'

Second statement, 2014 Pte S. EASTWOOD, 29th Bn (patient, Howard Gardens Hospital, Cardiff), 4 December 1916: 'I was told by Cpl. Deen (known as Tommy Dean) of A Company, 29th A.I.F., that he was with Cozens who was his chum when attacking and saw him shot apparently killed. He did not see him move afterwards. The position was held for about 11 hours afterwards and the Company then retired.'

Third statement, 2038 Pte J. GRIEVE, 29th Bn, 12 July 1917: 'I knew Casualty well. He was a tent mate of mine, called "Long'un". I spoke to L/Cpl. "Tony" Dean in England now returned to duty, and he told me that his pal, above named Casualty who was his greatest friend, was killed on the 19th July at Fleurbaix between Fritz's Post. He went right through the enemy entanglements and was killed by rifle fire. L/Cpl. Dean further went on to day that Casualty never left his side, and that they were together on their return journey to our lines when he suddenly missed his friend.'

Fourth statement, 183 Pte F.J. BRYANT, 29th Bn (patient, 1/5 Northern General Hospital, Leicester), 26 September 1916 [1917?]: 'Informant states that on July 19th and early morning of 20th 1916 at Fleurbaix the 8th Brigade advanced to the German 1st and 2nd lines and held the position for 11 hours, when what was left of the Brigade was ordered to retire. Six men were returning to the original line of whom Cozens was one, but he fell, badly wounded in the back and other places, between the 1st and second German lines. Reference [BRYANT] who was an eye-witness, says it was impossible to render assistance.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsMother's subsequent address (following death of father): 16 Manton Street, Burnley, Victoria.
SourcesNAA: B2455, COZENS James Alfred
Red Cross file 820908

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