Virtual
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Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Died on this date – 2nd November…… James Ambrose Vincent was born at Paddington, London, England in 1883.

The 1914, 1916 & 1917 Australian Electoral Rolls for the division of Swan, subdivision of Forrest, Western Australia recorded James Ambrose Vincent, Groom, of East Mornington.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 12th September, 1914 as a 32 year old, single, Groom. James Ambrose Vincent stated he had previously served with Royal West Kent Regiment for 8 years, 4 years on Reserves.

On 12th September, 1914 Private Vincent was posted to 11th Infantry Battalion for recruit training. He was reported absent without leave on 29th September, 1914 & fined 19/-. Private Vincent was again reported absent without leave on 1st October, 1914 & fined £1.

He re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 16th November, 1914.

On 22nd February, 1915 Private  Vincent, Service number 1425, embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia on HMAT Itonus (A50) on 22nd February, 1915 with the 11th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements.

Private James Ambrose Vincent was wounded in action at Gallipoli Peninsula (no date recorded). He embarked from Gallipoli Peninsula on 27th April, 1915 on Hospital Ship Galeka with gunshot wounds to right knee. He disembarked at Alexandria on 6th May, 1915 & was admitted to 17th General Hospital. Private Vincent was discharged to duty on 27th May, 1915.

He was taken on strength at Overseas Base at Mustapha on 27th May, 1915.

On 1st July, 1915 Private Vincent was admitted to Reception Hospital at Mustapha with Dysentery. He was transferred & admitted to Convalescent Camp the same day. Private Vincent was transferred & admitted to 17th General Hospital at Alexandria on 1st July, 1915 with Dysentery (severe). He was admitted to Hospital at Mustapha on 8th August, 1915 then transferred & admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital at Heliopolis on 13th August, 1915.

A Medical Report was completed on Private James Ambrose Vincent on 24th August, 1915 at the 1st Australian General Hospital. His disability was listed as “Injury to knee and chronic enteritis”.  The disability had originally occurred in May, 1915 at Gallipoli with a “blow on knee caused by shrapnel, synovitis in hospital 6 weeks while there dysentery developed.” The shrapnel & infection was caused due to active service. Private Vincent’s present condition as recorded as: - “Lost two stone weight, has some diarrhoea occasionally, slight swelling left knee which swells and gives pain when he walks on it.” The Medical Board recommended that Private James Ambrose Vincent be discharged as permanently unfit.

He embarked from Suez on H.M.T. Ulysses on 3rd September, 1915 for the purpose of being invalided home to Australia to be discharged.

Private James Ambrose Vincent returned to Australia on 23rd September, 1915. He was admitted to No. 8 Australian General Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia on 23rd September, 1915 due to an injury to his knee.

A Medical Report was completed on Private James Ambrose Vincent on 23rd December, 1915 at No. 8 Australian General Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia. The report stated his present condition was :- “Knee quite well. States he is still 2 stone under normal weight. Any hot drinks causes Diarrhoea 3 motion immediately after rising. Weight (clothed) 8 stone 13 lbs. Normal before enlisting 10 stone 2 lbs.” The Medical Board recommended further treatment.

James Ambrose Vincent married Rose Laura Fitch in 1916 in the district of Perth, Western Australia.

A Medical Report was completed on Private James Ambrose Vincent on 27th April, 1916 at No. 8 Australian General Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia. The report stated “Dysentery. Still has occasional attacks of diarrhoea. Injury to knee, now quite normal. Recommend further treatment. Re-board in six weeks.”

A Medical Report was completed on Private James Ambrose Vincent on 8th June, 1916 at No. 8 Australian General Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia. The report stated “Dysentery. Bowels move now twice daily. Injury to knee from shrapnel. No disability now. General condition good. Recommend return to duty. Fit for active Service.”

On 27th June, 1916 Private Vincent was discharged from No. 8 Australian General Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia.

Private James Ambrose Vincent returned to duty with the Australian Imperial Force. His service number was 1425 & his religion was Church of England. His next of kin was listed as his wife – Mrs Rose Vincent, 94 Stirling Street, Perth, Western Australia.

Private James Ambrose Vincent was posted to 6th Reinforcements of 51st Battalion.  He was reported absent from Parade from 7 am on 19th September, 1916 until 10 pm on 21st September, 1916 while posted at Black Boy Hill, Western Australia. He was punished by forfeiting two days’ pay. Private Vincent was transferred to 23rd Reinforcements of 11th Battalion on 12th October, 1916. He was transferred to 22nd Depot on 18th December, 1916 then transferred to 24th Reinforcements of 11th Battalion on 30th December, 1916.

On 29th January, 1917 Private Vincent embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia on HMAT Miltiades (A28)  with the 11th Infantry Battalion, 24th Reinforcements. He was to be Acting Lance Corporal (attached to Military Police for duty) while at Sea from 31st January, 1917 & disembarked at Devonport, England on 27th March, 1917. 

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.

Acting Lance Corporal James Ambrose Vincent was marched in to 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington, Wiltshire on 28th March, 1917. His rank reverted to that of Private on marching in to 3rd Training Battalion.

On 20th April, 1917 Private Vincent was sent to Fargo Military Hospital. He was admitted with a sprained ankle the same day then discharged to duty on 2nd June, 1917. A Certificate by the Medical Officer was completed on 23rd June, 1917 stating that Private Vincent had been admitted to hospital on 20th April, 1917 suffering from “POTTS Fracture of right foot.  The disability is of a serious nature, and in all probability will interfere with his future efficiency as a soldier.”  He was marched in to 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington on 2nd June, 1917.

He was written up for an Offence at Durrington – Absent without leave from midnight on 15th June, 1917 till 6.30 am on 20th June, 1917 & was awarded 120 hours detention & forfeited 10 days’ pay.

On 7th November, 1917 Private Vincent was marched out to 2nd Training Battalion at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire from 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington. (Date as per Service and Casualty Form)

Private Vincent was written up for an Offence at Sutton Veny - Absent without leave from midnight on 6th November, 1917 till apprehended by Military Police at Warminster Railway Station at 8 pm on 14th November, 1917. He was awarded 12 days F.P. No. 2 (Field Punishment) & was in custody from 16th November, 1917 awaiting trial.

He was Absent without leave from Sutton Veny (No. 2 Camp, 2nd Training Battalion) on 23rd January, 1918. He was declared Illegally absent  by a Court of Inquiry at Sutton Veny on 14th February, 1918.

A D.C.M. (District Court Martial) was held at Sutton Veny on 16th May, 1918 where Private James Ambrose Vincent was charged with being absent without leave from 23rd January, 1918 till apprehended & arrested at London on 5th May, 1918. Private Vincent pled guilty & was found guilty. He was sentenced to 9 months detention – 3 months remitted. & forfeited a total of 297 days’ pay.

Private James Ambrose Vincent was admitted to Lewes Detention Barracks on 28th May, 1918 from 1st Training Battalion at Sutton Veny. He was discharged from Lewes Detention Barracks on 13th August, 1918 & was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire from Lewes Detention Barracks on 14th August, 1918.

On 15th August, 1918 Private Vincent proceeded overseas to France. He was marched in to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre, France on 17th August, 1918. Pte Vincent proceeded to his Unit from A.I.B.D. on 25th August, 1918. He was sick enroute to his Battalion in France on 27th August, 1918 & admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin).  Private Vincent was transferred to Casualty Clearing Station on 31st August, 1918 then admitted to 2nd General Hospital at Havre on 1st September, 1918. He embarked from Havre for England on Hospital Ship Queen Alexandria on 5th September, 1918.

He was admitted to The Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, Lancashire, England on 6th September, 1918 with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin).

Private James Ambrose Vincent died at 04.40 hours on 2nd November, 1918 at The Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, Lancashire, England from Influenza & Broncho Pneumonia.

He was buried in Warrington Cemetery (Manchester Road), Warrington, Cheshire, England where 8 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/warrington---cheshire.html