STOKES, James
| Service Numbers: | 6853, 6863 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ararat, Victoria, Australia, June 1878 |
| Home Town: | Coburg, Moreland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Mental illness, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 October 1935 |
| Cemetery: |
Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6853, 6th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 6863, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 6863, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 6853, 6th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge, SW jaw with right eye loss | |
| 22 Oct 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 6853, 6th Infantry Battalion, MD wounding |
Help us honour James Stokes's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
How We Served
Looking for the family of ;- 6853 Private James Stokes of Coburg, Victoria who enlisted for War Service on the 15th of April 1916 and was firstly allocated to reinforcemenst for the 58th Battalion, and was then transferred to the 6th Battalion 1st AIF.
James was embarked for England and further training on the 25th of October and was then sent on to France where he entered training at the ‘Bull Ring’ Etaples on the 4th of May 1917 and from there was formally taken on strength with his Battalion in the field on the 21st of May. On the 4th of October 1917 whilst his Unit was engaged in operations during the Third Battle of Ypres, James received serious shrapnel wounds to his right eye, face and jaw. Evacuated to hospital James was retained in France untill his wounds could be stabilized before he arrived in England and was admitted into hospital on the 14th of October.
On the 12th of May 1918 James departed England on the 12th of May 1918 for repatriation back to Australia. Returning for further treatment for his wounds, James received his official discharge from the 1st AIF on the 22nd of October 1918. Following his re-entry into civilian life, James health broke down and he was admitted into the Military Mental Asylum (Mont Park) on the 23rd of September 1925 where he would undergo continuous treatment.
James's death occurred whilst he was on trial leave from Mont Park on the 11th of October 1935 at the age of 56, and was interred within Fawkner Cemetery, Victoria. On his enlistment James gave his brother, Mr Frank Stokes of Richmond as his next of kin, and when admitted into long term care at Mont Park in 1925 he gave his wife, Mabel Stokes, of Coburg as his known next of kin.
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