SKELLERN, James William
| Service Number: | 2211 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mow Cop, Cheshire, England, 24 March 1888 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Mill Street Weslyan Day School, Crewe, England |
| Occupation: | Railway Clerk |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 7 August 1915, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket Men of the Railways & Tramways Store Branch Roll of Valour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 2211, 2nd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Karoola embarkation_ship_number: A63 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 2211, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Karoola, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
James William SKELLERN was born on 24th March 1888 at Mow Cop, Cheshire, England. He was educated at Wesleyan Day School, Mill St, Crewe, England, then won a scholarship for a three-year course at Crewe Secondary College. After completing his schooling, he worked for a time as a clerk in the service of the London and North Western Railway at Crewe, England. At the age of 23 he emigrated to Australia while his family remained in England.
He worked for the NSW Government Railways and Tramwayys in several roles.
His first engagement was as a porter (temporary) in the Railways’ Traffic Branch based at Sydney. This lasted from 19th to 29th April 1912. His next engagement began on 3rd December 1912 when he started as a labourer (temporary) in the Tramways based at Randwick. This finished on 7th December 1912 when he transferred to ‘Staff Committee’. He worked at Railways’ Stores Branch based at Eveleigh in December 1912.
He passed his Clerical Examination on 2nd January 1913. His position became permanent on 7th July 1913.
He was released to join the Expeditionary Forces on 9th March 1915.
James joined the AIF on 7th March 1915. He was allocated to the 6th Reinforcements to the 2nd Infantry Battalion with the rank of Private (Service Number 2211). He nominated his mother, Maria Skellern of Crewe, Cheshire, England, as his next of kin.
He embarked at Sydney for Egypt aboard HMAT A63 ‘Karoola’ on 16th June 1915.
While he was in Egypt he was training at Heliopolis. He was taken on strength of the 2nd Infantry Battalion on 6th August 1915. Between leaving Australia and arriving at Gallipoli he had been appointed Acting Corporal but reverted to Private when he arrived at Gallipoli.
On 7th August 1915, the day after James was taken on strength of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, he was wounded in action at Lone Pine, receiving gunshot wounds to the abdomen and right knee. He was evacuated aboard HM Hospital Ship ‘Sicilia’ where he died of his wounds the same day. He was subsequently buried at sea.
He is commemorated at the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey. His place of association in Australia is Sydney, NSW.
In his Will he left all his money (including his Army and Railway pay due to him) to his friend, Miss Maggie Barnett of King St, Newtown in Sydney, but left all his possessions to his mother.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.