The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Brisbane on HMAT 'Seeang Bee', 13 February 1915.

Commenced return from Suez on HT 'Ceramic', 4 May 1915 Venereal disease).

According to a letter writte n by the Officer in Charge of Base Records, 6 September 1916, 'No. 1452 Private James Carroll, 15th Bn, returned to Australia on 26 May 1915, was discharged from Isolation Hospital, Longwarrin, as fit for duty and sent to Broadmeadows Camp on 17 August 1915. He was allocated the regimental number 2036 and transferred to the 3rd Reinforcements, 58th Battalion.'

Embarked Melbourne on 'Ajana', 8 July 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 31 August 1916, and marched into 15th Training Battalion, Larkhill; reported absent without leave, Codford, 31 October 1916; declared an illegal absentee by Court of Inquiry, Hurdcott, 27 November 1916.

Confession of Private James Carroll dated 16 July 1918 reads: 'I was granted leave during October, Nineteen hundered and sixteen from Training Depot at Codford Camp. I had permission to proceed to my home at Bunninadden in the County of Sligo in the Kingdom of Ireland. My leave expired on the thirty-first October, and I did not return to my unit. I reported to the Sergeant of Police, Royal Irish constabulary, at Bunninadden about the Seventh day of November, nineteen hundred and Sixteen, and stated that I was a deserter from the Australian Imperial Force, I also stated the circumstances that decided me to remain absent from duty. I was in constant touch with the police up to the time of my arrest some eighteen months later. I lived close to the station under my own name of James Carroll. About the eighth day of April, Nineteen hundred and Eighteen, a member of the Royal Irish constabulary came to my farm and told me he had a warrant for my arrest for desertion from the Australian Imperial Force. I was the brought to England and my case investigated by the adjudant of the Training Battalion at Codford. I was admitted to hospital about six days after arrest, and have been in hospital ever since with gastritis, and have now been classified C.3 - for discharge. I have applied for my discharge in the United Kingdom. I do admit the desertion from the Australian Imperial Force, and my reasons for somdoing [sic] are that:- My allotment made in Australia before embarkation to My Wife, Nellie Carroll, at Bunninadden, was not paid to her. I had continually applied to responsible Officers of my own Regiment, including Lieut. Alec Miller. When I arrived on leave at my home in Bunninedden I found my Wife in the greatest financial difficulty, and my aged parents - I am their only support - in financial difficulties and without means of support. I was myself at this time suffering from gastritis, and had been exempted in camp from active duty before my leave. I decided to report to the Police and to remain and work my farm in order to support my people, and to take the consequences of my action. I did not at any time attempt to evade arrest, or to hide myself'.

Admitted to Group Clearing Hospital, Codford, 8 May 1918 (gastritis); transferred to No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital, Codford, 29 May 1918; to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 25 June 1918.

Order dispensing with trial in case of confession of desertion dated 16 July 1918: 'The GOC AIF Depots in the United Kingdom dispenses with trial of the above named soldier with effect from 16th July 1918 and orders that instead of being tried by a Court Martial he shall suffer the same forfeitures and deductions from pay as if he had been convicted by a District Court Martial of the said offence. Period of forfeiture 1 November 1916 to 16 July 1918. Total Forfeiture (of) 623 days' pay'. Marched into headquarters, Weymouth, 29 July 1918; granted leave without pay or allowances until 22 February 1919 for family reasons, London, 22 August 1918.

Died of disease, Bunninadden, 20 April 1919 (pulmonary tuberculosis). Buried in Kiltarrow Cemetery, Sligo, 21 April 1919.