James McLean STARK

Regimental number3494
Date of birth11 July 1888
Place of birthSouth Melbourne, Victoria
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationMechanic
AddressSouth Melbourne, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation27
Height5' 8.75"
Weight152 lbs
Next of kinFather, D B Stark, 20 Northumberland Street, South Melbourne, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed in the School Cadets.
Enlistment date20 July 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name14th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/31/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A71 Nestor on 11 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollSapper
Unit from Nominal Roll4th Divisional Signal Company
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


'For conspicuous and gallantry (sic) and devotion to duty at VAIRE WOOD E of CORBIE on July 4th 1918. Sapper SATRK was engaged in the maintenance of telephone lines fore (sic) the Bde Forward Station to Battalions and for some hours worked ceaselessly in repairing broken wires being during the greater portion of the time under heavy shell-fire. Later when the Forward Station had to change position he assisted in the laying of a new line through the enemy barrage. His conduct has been very praiseworthy and he behaved with great coolness throughout the operation.'

FateReturned to Australia 5 April 1919
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Plaque in Victorian Garden of Remembrance
Medals

Military Medal


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23
Date: 12 February 1919

Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength, 14th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 4 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 1 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 8 June 1916.

Admitted to 22nd General Hospital, Camiers, 27 July 1916 (myalgia); discharged to 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 9 October 1916.

Admitted to 26th General Hospital, 17 October 1916 (debility); transferred to England, 21 October 1916, and admitted to Queen Mary's Hospital, Whalley, 22 October 1916; transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary hospital, Dartford, 14 November 1916; discharged to No 2 command Depot, Weymouth, 25 November 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 29 April 1917; rejoined 14th Bn, in the field, 4 May 1917.

Admitted to 12th Australian Field Ambulance, Belgium, 16 June 1917 (pyrexia, unknown origin); transferred to 2nd Australian General Hospital, Wimereux, 19 June 1917; to England, 19 July 1917, and admitted same day to 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham (pyrexia: severe); discharged on furlough, 30 July 1917, to report to Command Depot, Codford, 13 August 1917.

Found guilty, 21 August 1917, of being absent without leave 13-18 August 1917: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited a total of 15 days' pay.

Found guilty, District Court Martial, Hitchen, 9 February 1918, of when on Active Service strking his superior officer, 22 January 1918: awarded 60 days' detention, and forfeiture of a total of 78 days' pay.

Unexpired portion of sentence (12 days) remitted as from 28 March 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 28 March 1918; taken on strength, 3rd Divisional Signal Company, 26 May 1918.

Transferred to 4th Divisional Signal Company, 7 June 1918.

Awarded Military Medal.

Wounded in action, 18 September 1918 (shrapnel wound, finger, right hand), and admitted to 4th Australian Field Ambulance; transferred to 1st General Hospital, Etretat, 19 September 1918; to 1st Australian Convalescent Depot, 29 September 1918; rejoined 4th Divisional Signal Company, 23 October 1918.

Marched out to England for return to Australia, 27 January 1919.

Commenced return to Australia from Devonport on board HT 'Armagh', 5 April 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 18 May 1919; discharged, Melbourne, 10 July 1919.

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Re-enlisted, 27 September 1920, Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force.

Embarked, 6 October 1920; taken on strength, Post & Telegraph Department, Rabaul, 25 October 1920.

Discharged from AN&MEF, Rabaul, 22 February 1921; commenced return to Australia from Rabaul on board SS 'Marsina', 3 March 1921.
Miscellaneous detailsAddress (and next of kin's address) incorrectly copied from Attestation Form to Embarkation Roll as North Melbourne.
Date of death30 September 1943
SourcesNAA: B2455, STARK James McLean