BRYANT, James
| Service Number: | 527 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914, An original of E Company |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Glenorchy, Victoria, Australia, 15 September 1891 |
| Home Town: | Stawell, Northern Grampians, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | 1984, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Glenorchy Memorial Gates |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 527, 8th Infantry Battalion, An original of E Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 527, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 527, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
James Bryant sailed from Melbourne aboard HMAT Benalla with E Company, 8th Battalion, on 19 October 1914. He served right through the Gallipoli campaign. He was awarded the Military Medal (MM) 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During operations August 30th to September 2nd 1918 this N.C.O. directed the supply of rations to his own and other companies. He maintained communication between companies and Q.M. Store during moves and though constantly under shell fire he showed complete disregard of personal danger. On the night 2nd/3rd September 1918 he guided the ration parties to the dump near PERONNE and then to his company in the line, being under heavy fire the whole time, at the dump he was severely wounded but refused to be evacuated until he completed the distribution of rations. The efficient food supply of the front-line troops during the difficult operations was largely due to the untiring efforts and intrepidity of this N.C.O.'. James returned to Australia 18 January 1919.
With the outbreak of the Second World War, he re-enlisted on 8 May 1941 and was assigned the service number VX55299 and the rank of Lieutenant. On 8 September 1945 he was recovered from Changi Prisoner of War (POW) Camp after surviving three years as a prisoner of the Japanese. He returned to Australia from Singapore aboard the Hospital Ship Manunda and was discharged on 21 September 1945. Bryant was one of the few veterans to make a private pilgrimage back to the Gallipoli Peninsula in his later years.
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