DENNIS, James
| Service Numbers: | 3223, 3223A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mannum, South Australia, 3 November 1885 |
| Home Town: | Bute, Barunga West, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Mannum Public School , South Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm Labourer |
| Died: | Drowned at Sea, France, 25 July 1919, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Alford District of Ninnes Honour Board, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bute District Council WW1 Roll of Honor, Bute War Memorial Garden, Port Broughton War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France), Yacka WWI Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 3223, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Malakuta embarkation_ship_number: A57 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 3223, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Malakuta, Adelaide | |
| 25 Jul 1919: | Involvement Private, 3223A, 31st Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3223A awm_unit: 31st Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1919-07-25 | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 3223A, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by tony griffin
James Dennis was the son of Richard and Matilda Dennis. Jim was born at Mannum in 1885. A farm labourer at Bute, he was 30 years old when he enlisted on 16 March 1916. After enlisting Jim married Annie Elizabeth Evans, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Evans of Port Broughton. Their wedding was celebrated on 13 June.
James was appointed to 7 Reinforcements 31 Battalion and embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT A52 “Malakuta” on 12 January 1914. After disembarking in England Jim proceeded overseas to France where he was taken on strength of 31 Battalion.
On 9 October 1917 when the 31st Battalion relieved 7 Battalion in the Support Line on the Broodenseide-Noordendhock road Jim was wounded with a gunshot wound to his right thigh. He was invalided to England and admitted to Queen Mary Hospital. Having recovered from his wound Jim returned to France in April 1918. Jim survived the remainder of the war and embarked for his return to Australia on 10 June 1919.
Unfortunately Jim suffered severe mental depression as a result of happenings during the war. Aboard ship he wrote farewell letters to his wife and family and on 25 July jumped overboard from SS “Port Lyttelton”. His action was witnessed and the ship turned back but his body was not recovered.
The finding of a military Court of Inquiry was – “Suicide by drowning. Deceased was suffering from Mental Depression”.
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