The AIF Project

James McCONNELL

Regimental number5155
Place of birthNewtownards, Co Down, Ireland
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationFireman
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 10"
Weight177 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs A H McConnell, 4 Pottinger Street, Belfast, Ireland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date6 January 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll13 September 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name7th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/24/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A23 Suffolk on 1 April 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll7th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 4 December 1918
Discharge date27 February 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked, Suez, Egypt, 12 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 28 May 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 4 June 1916.

Marched into 1st Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples, 7 June 1916; marched out unit, 12 September 1916; taken on strength, 7th Bn, Belgium, 13 September 1916.

Mentioned in despatches, 2 October 1916, for participation in a very successful raid on the enemy trenches on 30 September 1916.

To hospital, Etaples, 24 February 1917 (sick); admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance, 17 March 1917 (mumps); rejoined unit, 5 April 1917.

To hospital, 20 April 1917 (sick); admitted to 5th Divisional Rest Station, 21 April 1917 (ST right ankle, accidental); discharged to duty, 8 May 1917; admitted to 5th Divisional Rest Station, 11 May 1917; transferred to 9th Casualty Clearing Station, 14 May 1917; to No 2 Convalescent Hospital, Rouen, 25 May 1917; to No 1 Australian General Hospital, Rouen, 25 May 1917; to No 11 Convalescent Depot, 31 May 1917; discharged to 1st Australian Division Base Depot, Havre, 16 June 1917.

Proceeded to England as surplus for permanent base duties, 21 September 1917; marched into No 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 21 September 1917; marched out to Headquarters, Australian Imperial Force Depots in the United Kingdom, Tidworth, 5 November 1917; attached for duty with Depots in UK, 5 November 1917; detached from duty and marched out to No 2 Command Depot, 15 August 1918; marched in to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 15 August 1918.

Found guilty, 31 October 1918, of being absent without leave from 11.59 pm, 29 October, to 12.45 am, 31 October 1918: awarded 2 days’ Confined to Barracks, and forfeited a total of 2 days’ pay.

Commenced return to Australia, from England, on board HT ‘Somerset’, 4 December 1918; disembarked, 15 January 1919; discharged (medically unfit), 27 February 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Medal stamps marked returned, 10 May 1928.
SourcesNAA: B2455, McCONNELL James

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