| Regimental number | 482 |
| Place of birth | Jondaryan, Queensland |
| School | State School, Queensland |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Station hand |
| Address | Pechey, Crow's Nest, Queensland |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 29 |
| Height | 5' 11" |
| Weight | 176 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, James Gavin, Pechey, Crow's Nest, Queensland |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Enoggera, Queensland |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 31st Battalion, B Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/48/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on |
| Two ships left from Melbourne carrying the 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D: HMAT A62, 'Wandilla', on 9 November 1915 and HMAT A41, 'Bakara', on 5 November 1915. It is not possible from the Embarkation Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Lance Corporal |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 31st Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Armentieres, France |
| Age at death | 30 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 30 |
| Place of burial | Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery (Plot I, Row K, Grave No. 39), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 118 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: James and Mary GAVIN, Argyle Street, East Toowoomba, Queensland |
| Family/military connections | Brothers: 1566 Pte George GAVIN, 5th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 1 January 1919; 2341 Gunner John Joseph GAVIN, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 14 January 1919; 3261 Pte Patrick Joseph GAVIN, 5th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 28 June 1919; 3262 Pte Stephen GAVIN, Australian Mounted Division Train, returned to Australia, 10 July 1919.; |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Melbourne on board HMAT 'Wandilla', 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 7 December 1916. Appointed Lance Corporal, Ferry Post, 29 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Killed in action, 19 July 1916. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal Father requested the following inscription on his son's headstone: 'A sorrowing people cried aloud,/That they were of a hero proud./He helped to build his country's name./And died in bringing her to fame.' Base Records replied, 1 July 1925, pointing out that the inscription of 'considerably over 100 letters' exceeded the maximum of 66 letters (including spaces), and suggested that an alternative inscription be considered, given the difficulty of abbreviating what had orginally been proposed. Father wrote to Base Records, 14 July 1925, suggesting the words: "Though nothing can the loss replace A dear one taken from our side. Rest in peace".' On being informed that this still exceeded the maximum permitted, he replied, 3 July 1925: '... the following inscription will do: "Though nothing can the loss replace/A dear one taken from our side".' |
| Miscellaneous details | Age entered incorrectly on Embarkation Roll as 39. |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, GAVIN James |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
