The AIF Project

James Simpson WILLOX

Regimental number727
Place of birthMuthill, Perthshire, Scotland
Age on arrival in Australia20
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationCarpenter
AddressScott Street, Warracknabeal, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation29
Height5' 8.5"
Weight148 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Ida A Willox, Scott Street, Warracknabeal, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date19 August 1914
Place of enlistmentBroadmeadows, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name8th Battalion, F Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/25/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A24 Benalla on 19 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll60th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records31
Place of burialNew Irish Farm Cemetery (Plot XXXI, Row F, Grave No. 15), St. Jean-Des-Ypres, Belgium
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
177
Family/military connectionsUncle: 3279 Lance Corporal James DRUMMOND MM, 1st Traffic Control Detachment, returned to Australia, 28 March 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 5 April 1915.

Promoted corporal, 13 August 1915; Sergeant, 23 August 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 7 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Transferred to, and taken on strength of, 60th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 24 February 1916.

Detached to School of Instruction, Zeitoun (date not recorded); rejoined Bn, 25 March 1916.

Promoted Temporary Company Sergeant Major, 25 March 1916; promoted Company Sergeant Major, 3 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported missing, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Note, Red Cross File No 2970908: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19.'

Statement, 2615 Sergeant J. KIRFIELD, 60th Bn, 17 May 1918: 'I am not absolutely certain, but believe he was buried on the field. We went over the parapet together on that fateful da, only going a few yds., when he was hit, about the region of the abdomen. I only stayed a few seconds with him, as I had to go on, not going very far before I was hit. I never saw him after that.'

Second statement, 1741 Pte L.C. PAYNE, C Company, 60th Bn, 14 April 1917: 'I saw Willox killed on July 19th 1916 at Fleurbaix. In an attack the whole division went over and at about 35 yards from our lines he was killed instantly by enemy fire. It is believed by a shot from a sniper's rifle. He was struck on the head and I saw him fall ... I do not know anything about his burial.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, WILLOX James Simpson
Red Cross File No 2970908

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