John Francis Grabham MM

photo Linton Reynolds Oct 2015
Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Death	15 Nov 1918
Place of Death	Amiens, France
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 5 months
Description	5'2" (1.57m) tall; weight 100 lbs (45.4 kg); fresh complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair.
Occupation	orchard hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Roleystone, via Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Step Father Mr James Edward Grabham
Military Information
Reg Number	3800
Date of Enlistment	30 Aug 1915
Rank	Driver
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement, transferred to 51st Battalion / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	22 Nov 1915 - 14 Dec 1915
Ship Embarked On	RMS Mongolia
Fate	Died of Influenza 15 Nov 1918 in the 41st Stationary Hospital, Amiens, France
Monument	none at present
Medals	Military Medal 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

1915 Sep edition. "Has gone into camp from Roleystone and along with Keith Podger, and Harris Smith was given a send off on Saturday 13th September."

Initially intended to be one of the 12th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion, he was transferred to the 13th Reinforcement draft for 12th Battalion.

In Egypt in early Jan 1916 he contracted mumps and was admitted to the 4th Australian General Hospital at Abbassia before transferring to the No.1 Auxiliary Hospital in Heliopolis and then to the British Red Cross Hospital.

On his return to the 3rd Training Battalion in late March 1916, he was transferred to the 51st Battalion in April 1916. Sailed from Alexandria to Marseilles with the 51st Battalion on the HMT Ivernia, arriving in France on 12 June 1916.

With some medical restrictions resulting from his mumps, he was attached to the battalion's Pack Transport Section, and on 1 Oct 1917 was appointed Driver. He spent a week on leave in the UK in March 1918.

Died of influenza/Bronchial pneumonia on 15 Nov 1918 after being first admitted to 13th Australian Field Ambulance on 8th November and then to 41st Stationary Hospital, Amiens where he died.

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  Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery 2015 L.Reynolds
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

"Mrs Grabham, of Roleystone, Kelmscott has been informed that her son, J.F. Grabham has been awarded the Military Medal. (for work with the Divisional Pack Transport Troop, which carried supplies, water and ammunition forward to the front line sector."

GRABHAM-Died of pneumonia in France, on November 14 after three years' active service. John Francis Grabham, M.M. (Frank), beloved youngest son of H. Grabham, Roleystone, Kelmscott and J. E. Grabham (on active service): brother of G. D. Rouse, Goulburn New South Wales; E. J. Rouse (returned), and Mrs G. T. Rowell East Fremantle. Peace, perfect peace.

Award Comment

Military Medal Recommendation date: 13 June 1917

'From 5th to 12th June 1917 near MESSINES these N.C.O.s and men [6704 W. BERRY, 4315 F. McKENZIE, 4838 J.J. O'BRIEN, 8460 F.E. NELSON, 6317 P.S. CHARLWOOD, 2085 A.W. SIMMONS, 2206 W.W. ARBERY, 3250 K.C. BASSETT, 3800 J.F. GRABHAM] were employed with the Divisional Pack Transport Troop which was used nightly in taking up supplies, water and ammunition to the various Battalion Headquarters. The various convoys came nightly under heavy shell and machine gun fire and their work was carried out in the dark and under trying conditions. In some cases the supplies were taken up to within a few hundred yards from Front Line. These N.C.O.s and men have been selected in order of merit out of the 77 N.C.O.s and men employed, as having set an example of coolness under fire and determination in carrying out their duties.

JF Grabham (MM recipient) was one of eight men of the 51st that died of influenza in November 1918. 48 others were taken ill with it.

Post War

In 1919 James' mother had moved to Third road, Armadale.

Notes

Initially buried in the Dury Hospital Military Cemetery, he was later exhumed and moved to the VILLERS - BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY, Plot 12, Row AA, Grave 7 . The reason for exhumation was that access to his original grave was only via the courtyard of a "lunatic" asylum.

Son of James Edward and Harriet Grabham, of Third Road, Armadale, Western Australia. Born at Kelmscott, Western Australia.

Note his enlistment place of birth is given as Sydney, New South Wales. In his Will, he reveals that his correct name is John Francis Rouse (Mother's maiden name), aka Grabham.