| Regimental number | 6857 |
| Place of birth | Ulster, Ireland |
| Other Names | William |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Rigger |
| Address | 5 Little Smyth Street, Geelong, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 23 |
| Height | 5' 5" |
| Weight | 163 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Mr W Brankin, Bells Hill Road, Uddingston, Lanark, Scotland |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 5th Battalion, 23rd Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/22/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on |
| Regimental number from Nominal Roll | 6957 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 5th Battalion |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | Correct name stated to be William BRANKIN. Enlisted 18 September 1916 - 5th Bn, 23rd Reinforcements. Taken on strength, 5th Bn, 10 May 1917. |
| Fate | Died of wounds |
| Place of death or wounding | Menin Road sector, Ypres, Belgium |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death | 24 |
| Place of burial | Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (Plot XXIV, Row C, Grave No. 20), Belgium |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 16 |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 23 November 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 29 January 1917. Admitted to Fargo Military Hospital, 20 February 1917 (influenza); discharged to duty and marched in to 2nd Training Bn, Folkestone, 5 March 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 3 May 1917; marched in to 1st Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples, France, 4 May 1917; marched out to unit, 7 May 1917; taken on strength of 5th Bn, in the field, 10 May 1917. Admitted to 1st Australian Field Ambulance and transferred to 1st Australian Divisional Rest Station, 6 July 1917 (pyrexia, unknown origin); discharged and rejoined unit in the field, 12 July 1917. Wounded in action, Belgium, admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance and transferred to 10th Casualty Clearing Station, 20 September 1917 (shrapnel wound to right shoulder and hands). Died of wounds, Belgium, 23 September 1917. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, BRANKIN James |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
