The AIF Project

James FITZGERALD

Regimental number6920
Place of birthWaterford, Ireland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
AddressMount Crosby, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation28
Height5' 5.5"
Weight155 lbs
Enlistment date16 April 1917
Place of enlistmentTownsville, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name25th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/42/6
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 14 June 1917
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll25th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 12 April 1919
Discharge date7 June 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 14 June 1917; disembarked Liverpool, England, 25 August 1917; marched in to 7th Training Bn, Rollestone, 27 August 1917.

Tried by District Court Martial, 1 October 1917, on a charge of at Rollestone, 12 September 1917, using insubordinate language to his superior officer; pleaded 'Not Guilty'; found Guilty; awarded 40 days' detention; time in custody awaiting trial: 19 days; forfeited a total of 59 days' pay.

Unexpired portion of sentence remitted for good conduct as from 3 November 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 8 January 1918; taken on strength, 25th Bn, 15 January 1918.

Found guilty, 15 January 1918, of being late at 8.20 am parade for draft marching out to unit: awarded 1 day's Field Punishment No 2.

Wounded in action, 11 June 1918 (gun shot wound, right arm), and admitted to 5tyh Australian Field Ambulance; transferred to 61st Casualty Clearing Station, and thence to Ambulance Train, and admitted to 15th General Hospital, 12 June 1918. transferred to England, 17 June 1918, and admitted same day to Herne Bay Military Hospital; transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 8 July 1918; discharged on furlough, 11 July 1918, to report to No 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 25 July 1918.

Posted as Absent without Leave, 25 July 1918.

Declared an Illegal Absentee by Court of Enquiry, 27 August 1918.

District Court Martial, 51 Warwick Square, London, 29 November 1918: pleaded Guilty to a charge on when on Active Service absenting himself without leave, and remained so absent until apprehended by the Military Authorities in London on the 20th November 1918 at 11.30. Found Guilty: awarded 6 months' detention.

Admitted to Lewes Detention Barracks, 6 December 1918; 69 days of sentence remitted as from 20 March 1919.

Commenced return to Australia from Devonport on board HT 'Suffolk', 12 April 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 5 June 1919; discharged, Brisbane, 7 June 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death29 January 1952
Age at death68
Place of burialKarori Cemetery (11b35/17), Wellington, New Zealand
SourcesNAA: B2455, FITZGERALD James

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.