James Edward Grabham

James Edward Grabham

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known "Not known" contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation.
Place of Birth	Cheltenham, England
Death	5 Sep 1939, aged 60
Place of Death	Fremantle, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	38 years, 6 months
Description	5' 10½" (1.79m) tall ; 135 lbs 61.235 kg ; tanned complexion ; grey eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Orchardist
Religion	Church of England
Address	Roleystone, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Harriet Grabham
Military Information
Reg Number	2414
Date of Enlistment	3 Apr 1916
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	51st Battalion, 5th Reinforcement transferred to 12th Training Battalion
Date of Embarkation	20 Sep 1016 ‒ 15 Nov 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A66 Uganda
Date of Return	10 Jan 1919 ‒ 10 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A35 Berrima Fremantle to Plymouth
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott War Memorial (North panel) Roleystone Honour Board
Medals	British War Medal

Pre War

1900 married Harriet Rouse who was 15 years older than him.

Electoral Roll details - 1903 a labourer living in Nelson street Beaconsfield where son Edward James was born (1903) but died before his first birthday; 1910 a marine dealer at 150 Marmion street East Fremantle; 1916 a carpenter in Croyden road Roleystone.

War Service

CALL TO ARMS; TO-DAYS RESPONSE; JUST SHORT OF THE HUNDRED. For a week now the response of would-be recruits to the enlisting office at Francis-street has been over the hundred, but to-day only 98 came forward. Of these 43 were declared fit,- but only 37 were sworn in, the cases of five being deferred for further consideration; the balance (56) were rejected. Following are the lists: FIT FOR SERVICE. ..... J. E. Grabham, Roleystone, Kelmscott ...

On entering Blackboy Hill camp on 3 Apr 1916James was allocated to the 60th Depot Company for his induction after which he was transferred to the 5th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion, travelling with them to England.

On arrival in England on 15 Nov 1916 James was sent to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford. On 30 Mar 1917 he was made EDP Corporal for 3 months at Codford before he reverted to the ranks, remaining with the 13th Training Battalion. On 11 Apr 1918 he was transferred to the 12th Training Battalion and on 26 Jun 1918 he was appointed acting Sergeant and was added to their permanent cadre on the same day. On 10 Dec 1918 he moved again, this time to the No.4 Command Depot at Hurdcott to prepare for return to Australia.

Did not reach France or Belgium on duty. Return to Australia was for medical reasons - sciatica. Discharged by the 5th Military District on 31 Mar 1919.

Post War

Electoral Roll details - 1919 - 1920 living in Third road, Armadale; 1925 a watchman living at 21 Wardle street, South Fremantle with wife Harriet before moving to 56 Brisbane street North Perth where he was described as a grocer. In 1931 they are in Spencer street Albany where James was a house renovator. Harriet died in Albany in 1934 aged 70, so in 1937 James was by himself in 30 Hampton road, Fremantle, a handyman where he in turn died in 1939, aged 60.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial