James Bryden

James Bryden

Personal Information
Date of Birth	9 Dec 1909
Place of Birth	Fremantle, Western Australia
Death	18 Apr 1983, aged 73
Place of Death	Willetton, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	32 years, 4 months
Description	5'7½" (1.72m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	clerk
Religion	Brethren
Address	Churchman's Brook road, Bedfordale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Nancy Bryden
Military Information
Reg Number	W62249
Date of Enlistment	22 Apr 1942
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	5th Australian Camp Hospital
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	18 Jul 1945 ‒ 23 Jul 1945
Transport Details	HMT Taroona Brisbane to Port Moresby
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	6 Dec 1945
Transport Details	plane Port Moresby to Brisbane
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia (Medical)
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Married in 1932 to Nancy Winifred Sivewright. They had 3 children at time of James' enlistment. Nancy died 25 May 1975, aged 66 in Mt Lawley.

Electoral Roll entries: 1934 at 13 Coode street Mt Lawley, clerk; 1936 - 1937 at 19 Harvey road, Shenton Park, clerk; 1943 at "Willow Bank", Albany road, Bedfordale.

War Service

Soon after James enlisted in the CMF for 'non combat' duties at Claremont, he was sent to the 16th Training Company, and on 12 Feb 1943 he was transferred to the 36th AITB. On 12 Mar 1943 he was transferred to the 12th Employment Company, who in turn detached him to the 7th Works and Parks Company on 17 May 1943. He returned to the 12th Employment Company on 20 Nov 1943.

James was promoted to Acting Corporal on 25 Feb 1944, and on 4 Mar 1944 the unit was transferred to Queensland. In December 1944 he was granted leave to Western Australia, and while there was a patient of the 110th Australian Base Hospital Perth needing treatment from 4 - 9 Jan 1945 for sinusitis. Following his leave he returned to the 12th Employment Company in Queensland, reverting in rank to Private. On 20 Mar 1945 he was transferred to the staff of the 71st Australian Camp Hospital, graded as a Group 3 Clerk.

James was transferred again on 17 Apr 1945, this time to the 5th Australian Camp Hospital, which on 18 Jul 1945 embarked on the HMT Taroona in Brisbane for Port Moresby, disembarking there on 23 Jul 1945. On 8 Oct 1945 he was admitted to the Camp Hospital with an eye problem, and on the next day he was evacuated to the 2/7th Australian General Hospital. Following treatment he was discharged to his unit on 18 Oct 1945. Promoted Corporal on 1 Nov 1945, he was again admitted to hospital on 20 Nov 1945, this time with bruises to his back and right knee, but was released back to his unit two days later.

James was transferred to the WA Line of Command for discharge purposes, and on 6 Dec 1945 he was emplaned in Port Moresby for Queensland, to begin the journey to Perth where he arrived on 12 Dec 1945. James was discharged on 20 Dec 1945 on compassionate grounds. His discharge papers mention that his neck was fractured.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Albany highway, Bedfordale, accountant; 1954 at 59 Walcott street, Mt Lawley, accountant; 1963 at 6 Beverley street, Mt Lawley, accountant; 1980 at 25 Sheridan crescent, Willetton, accountant.

Notes

Enlisted by taking an affirmation rather than an oath for non combat duties only.