Selby Hartwell James
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 11 Dec 1895 |
| Place of Birth | Kenwick, Western Australia |
| Death | 14 May 1976, aged 80 |
| Place of Death | Maylands, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 25 years, 6 months |
| Description |
5'9¾" (1.m) tall ; 140 lbs 63.503 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Dairyhand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Maddington, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Frank Barnett Carl James |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 3238 |
| Date of Enlistment | 24 Jul 1916 |
| Rank | Trooper |
| Unit/Formation | 10th Light Horse Regiment, 26th Reinforcement |
| Date of Embarkation | 26 Feb 1917 ‒ 18 Mar 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | RMS Morea Fremantle to Bombay |
| Date of Embarkation | 18 Mar 1917 ‒ 4 Apr 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A47 Mashobra Bombay to Suez |
| Date of Return | 10 Jul 1919 ‒ 4 Aug 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Oxfordshire |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries; 1916 "Thornlie", Maddington, dairyhand
War Service
Entered camp on 24 Jul 1916 and on 19 Oct 1916 he was allocated to the 24th reinforcement draft for the 10th Light Horse Regiment. This was changed to the 26th draft on 1 Feb 1917. Selby and his fellow passengers transferred from the RMS Morea to HMAT A47 Mashobra in Bombay on 18 Mar 1917. On arrival in Egypt, Selby was sent to the 'A' Details Camp at Moascar before transferring to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Regiment on 21 May 1917. Three days later he was taken on strength by the 10th Light Horse Regiment at Marakeb.
On 26 Feb 1918 Selby was sent to the Desert Mounted Corps Rest Camp at Port Said, returning to his unit on 10 Mar 1918. On 16 Aug 1918 he was sent to hospital ill, and on 21 Aug 1918 admitted to the 47th Stationary Hospital at Gaza. He was discharged to duty on 26 Aug 1918, but sent to the Port Said rest camp again from 29 Aug 1918 to 26 Sep 1918. He was able to rejoin his unit on 18 Nov 1918. Selby was amongst the last to return to Australia, being discharged by the 5th Military District on 14 Sep 1919.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1925 - 1937 "Thornlie", Maddington, dairy hand; 1943 at Collin street, East Perth, soldier; 1949 at 12 Stirling street Bayswater, labourer; 1954 - 1972 at 12 Derby street, Bayswater, labourer, later retired
During 1919 Selby married Ivy Zillah Mary Stone. Ivy died on 30 Jul 1979, aged 81 in Inglewood. Children were Ron, Stan, and Myrtle Ivy.
Selby served during WW2 with the 5th Australian LOC Provost Company as a Sergeant from 14 Aug 1940 until 19 Oct 1945.
Notes