DARBY, James Butler
| Service Number: | 10150 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Bombardier |
| Last Unit: | 5th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Lewisham, New South Wales, Australia, 13 December 1891 |
| Home Town: | Petersham, Marrickville, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Christian Brothers High School, Lewisham, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 1 January 1918, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kandahar Farm Cemetery, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium II H 8 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Dec 1915: | Involvement Gunner, 10150, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 1915: | Embarked Gunner, 10150, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Berrima, Sydney | |
| 1 Jan 1918: | Involvement Bombardier, 10150, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 10150 awm_unit: 12th Australian Field Artillery Battery awm_rank: Bombardier awm_died_date: 1918-01-01 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
James Butler DARBY, (Service Number 10150) was born on 13 December 1891 at Lewisham. He first worked for the NSW Railways as a foreman’s clerk at Eveleigh in November 1910. Two years later he became a junior clerk and then an adult clerk on his 21st birthday. In 1914 he suffered an injury by coming into contact with an engine and was on full accident pay for six weeks.
He joined the Expeditionary Forces on 5 September 1915 at Warwick Farm. He left Australia through Sydney on 17 December 1915 onboard HMAT ‘Berrima'.
Submitted 9 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Mr. and Mrs. W. Darby, of The Avenue, Petersham, received word last week of the death in France of their second eldest son, James. The deceased enlisted along with his brother William in August, 1915, and did constant service in the artillery for two years. He was educated at the Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham, and
previous to enlisting was a clerk in the Railway Department. He was well-known in Catholic circles, being secretary of the young men's society at Lewisham, and an earnest worker in all local church matters. That he was held in high esteem by all who knew him is evidenced by the numerous letters of condolence his sorrowing parents have received, and it is a consolation to them to know that their son was in heart and soul a thorough Catholic. The Rev. Father R. Darby, of St. Mary's Cathedral, is a brother. A Solemn Requiem Mass will be sung at St. Thomas 's, Lewisham on Wed
nesday, the 30th inst., at 10 a.m.— R.I.P.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
James Butler DARBY (Service Number 10150) was born on 13th December 1891 at Lewisham. He first worked for the NSW Railways as a foreman’s clerk at Eveleigh (Redfern) in November 1910. Two years later he became a junior clerk and then an adult clerk on his 21st birthday. In 1914 he suffered an injury by coming into contact with an engine and was on full accident pay for six weeks.
He joined the Expeditionary Forces on 5th September 1915 at Warwick Farm. He left Australia from Sydney on 17th December 1915 onboard HMAT ‘Berrima’. Hereached Egypt in February. He joined the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column. Later, he joined the 5th Artillery Battery. He left Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force and passed through Marseilles in March and reached the Western Front in France in March 1916. He was transferred between several artillery units through 1916 and 1917 until he was given leave in England in August 1917. In October he was promoted to temporary Bombardier. In December he had leave in Paris.
He received a shrapnel wound to his head on 1st January 1918. He was admitted to the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance. He died on the same day.
He is buried at Kandahar Farm Cemetery, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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