James Augustine HANSCOMBE MM

James Augustine HANSCOMBE MM Update Details

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HANSCOMBE, James Augustine

Service Number:	4128
Enlisted:	9 November 1915, Sydney, New South Wales
Last Rank:	Gunner
Last Unit:	5th Divisional Ammunition Column
Born:	Bega, New South Wales, 11 July 1886
Home Town:	Bega, Bega Valley, New South Wales
Schooling:	Numbugga Public School
Occupation:	Farmer
Died:	Natural causes, Bega, New South Wales, 21 December 1967, aged 81 years
Cemetery:	Bega Cemetery, New South Wales
Memorials:

World War 1 Service

9 Nov 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4128, Sydney, New South Wales
8 Mar 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4128, 17th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: ''
8 Mar 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4128, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Sydney
6 Oct 1917:	Honoured Military Medal, Third Ypres
29 Oct 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Gunner, 4128, 5th Divisional Ammunition Column

Help us honour James Augustine Hanscombe's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Julianne Ryan

Father
Mother Catherine Hanscombe, c/o Post Office, Bega, NSW

Next of kin in service:
Best mate
4068 Private Joseph Britten - 17th Battalion
        Pte James Hanscombe was later awarded the Military Medal (MM) for attempting
        to rescue Pte Britten, who was killed in action.
        09/11/1915 enlisted in Sydney, NSW
        06/10/1917 killed in action whilst delivering ammunition
        buried at:    Birr Cross Roads Cemetery at Zillebeke, Belgium
            Plot I, Row C, Grave 10
        His name is commemorated on
        - Panel 21 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.
        - in St John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Bega, NSW.

Brother:
4127 Gunner Charles Edin (Edward) HANSCOMBE - 5th Divisional Ammunition Column
         09/11/1915 enlisted 29 years and 1 month of age
                            with his brother James in Sydney, NSW
         09/05/1917 returned to Australia onboard HMAT Thermistocles
         31/07/1917 discharged from service
         19/06/1967 passed away
         buried in:     Rookwood Cemetery, Rookwood, NSW

James was described on enlisting as 30 years 3 months of age; single; 5' 7.5" tall;
132 lbs; dark complexion; brown eyes; brown hair; Roman Catholic

09/11/1915 enlisted with his best mate Joseph Britten and brother Charles Hanscombe
in Sydney, NSW

08/03/1916    Both farmers of Bega NSW, they embarked together with the
                    17th Infantry Battalion, 10th Reinforcements
                    from Sydney, NSW onboard HMAT Star of England A15

17/04/1916 taken on strength of 5th Divisional Ammunition Column (5 DAC)
and mustered Gunner, Ferry Post East

16/05/1916 appointed Driver, Ferry Post
to 15th Field Artillary Brigade, Etaples, France

16/06/1916    proceeded overseas to join British Expeditionary Forces, ex Alexandria
                     onboard HMT Knight Templar
25/06/1916    disembarked into Marseilles, France

12/04/1917 Driver proceeded overseas to France, ex Folkestone
marched into Etaples, France

18/04/1917 marched out to 5th Divisional Australian Field Artillery

20/04/1917 taken on strength 5 DAC, in the field

10/06/1917 on Command at 5th Army Rest Camp, at St Vallery due Somme
25/06/1917 rejoined unit, ex Rest Camp

20/09/1917 on leave in England
02/10/1917 returned to unit

31/10/1917    Driver Hanscombe's MILITARY MEDAL was awarded for bravery and
                    devotion to duty, although heavily shocked, while delivering ammunition
                    along the Menin Road whilst the column was being heavily shelled.

15/10/1918 reverts to Gunner - at own request - with 5th Divisional Australian Field Artillery

01/04/1919 marched out for return to Australia

02/06/1919 returned to Australia onboard Beltana, ex England

02/07/1919 admitted to ships hospital - jaundice at sea
19/07/1919 disembarked into Australia

29/10/1919 discharged from service

Medals: British War medal (35261) and Victory medal (34790)
Military Medal

1923 Married - Gladys BUCKLEY at St Patrick's Church, Bega, NSW

21/12/1967 passed away
buried in: Bega Cemetery, Bega, NSW

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 12/01/2017. Lest we forget.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia