James Owen Horrocks
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | Not known |
| Place of Birth | Walhalla, Gippsland, Victoria |
| Death | 1947 |
| Place of Death | Norseman, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 20 years, 4 months |
| Description | 5' 6½" (1.69m) tall; weight 147 lbs (66.7 kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, black hair |
| Occupation | butcher |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | Cardup, via Beenup, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father Mr Joseph Horrocks |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2543 |
| Date of Enlistment | 4 Mar 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 16th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement, allocated to B Company |
| Date of Embarkation | 19 Jun 1915 - unknown at Port Suez |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A51 Chilka |
| Date of Return | 28 Feb 1919 - unknown |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A68 Anchises |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | none at present |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Appears to have served at Gallipoli as a signaller with the 16th Battalion. A medical report on him speaks of him being buried by a shell explosion at Anzac Cove. "looks a bit nervy." On 1 Aug 1915 he was seen by the 16th Casualty Clearing Station on Mudros before being admitted to the 16th Stationary Hospital with Vaccina, a reaction to being inoculated for smallpox.
James returned to his unit on 28 Aug 1915. In Oct 1915 he also required four days treatment for influenza, and in early December he received treatment for a disordered action to his heart. This time he was evacuated to 2nd Australian General Hospital at Ghezireh in Cairo where he was treated for jaundice entering hospital on 5 Dec 1915, and moving to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 8 Dec 1915. On 11 Dec 1915 he is being treated by the Ras-el-tin Colonial Hospital in Alexandria before being released from hospital on 5 Jan 1916 to the Australian Base at Mustapha.
As a result of his medical condition he was to be transferred to the Postal Corps, and on 7 Apr 1916 he embarked on HMT Minnewaska in Alexandria for England where he was taken on strength by the postal service on 14 May 1916.
Spent most of the time In England base units, and made a number of visits to Bulford VD Hospital as well as a range of other hospitals with various ailments.
Spent from 6 Sep to 29 Dec 1918 with the 16th Battalion in France.
Discharged 3 Jun 1919 at 5th Military District.
Casualty List 267 published in The West Australian 23 Jan 1917 p.7, lists James as ill.
A week later The West Australian reports that James is now classified as seriously ill.[1]
Post War
On 31 Jan 1921 James was employed by the WAGR as a casual 'repairer' at the rate of 14 shillings, 4 pence ($1.43) per day. Electoral Roll entries - 1925 living in Fortune street, Narrogin, employed as a porter before he and his wife Adelaide move to Collie with work as a shunter. 1936 both at Ajana where James is working as a miner. 1943 has James without Adelaide in Norseman mining. He died in Norseman in 1947.
Father worked at Cardup Brick Works.
References
- ↑ "WESTERN AUSTRALIA.". The West Australian. XXXIII, (4,627). Western Australia. 30 January 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 29 June 2017 – via National Library of Australia.