ARNETT , James Henry
| Service Number: | 1619 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Yorkshire Hull, England, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Ballarat, Central Highlands, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tanner |
| Died: | 5 January 1933, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Swan Hill Memorial Park |
| Memorials: | Mount Barker Soldiers' Memorial Hospital Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 1619, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 1619, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide |
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BACKGOUND
James Arnett was originally born in Yorkshire Hull, England, before moving to Australia. Standing at 5’6” and weighing 124lb, he wasn’t one of the tallest or heaviest soldiers in his division. Before signing up for the AIF, he lived in Horvert St, Ballarat. Living with his spouse, Annie Maria Arnett and their four children; James worked as tanner, having been an apprentice for 6 years in England. After he returned to Australia from France, he moved from Ballarat to 75 Kionga St, Clayton, Victoria.
SERVICE
James Henry Arnett enlisted on the 27th April, 1915 at Keswick, Adelaide for the 27th Battalion; along with around 1,000 other men. Arnett’s service in the 27th Battalion was sadly short lived, due to being wounded in action around the area of Morlancournt, from shell gas poisoning. Thankfully he survived the injury, later being returned to Australia and discharged under being, medically unfit.
However before this time he played a part in many battles fought by the 27th Battalion. His time spent in Gallipoli was, thankfully, rather uneventful. Only spending a short time there before returning to Egypt and then heading to France. Most of Arnett’s time in service was spent here in France, on the western front, where he became part of the Belgium Frontier Force (B.F.F.). During this time, Arnett was relatively quiet as his records show that he didn’t commit any offenses and get caught; until January, 1916. Arnett first major battle was at Pozieres, he entered the front line trenches here for the first time on 7th April 1916.
It was during this time that Arnett started to become rather rebellious. On several accounts he was caught leaving the ranks without permission, as well as being charged for drunkenness on 3 accounts. On all occasions he was charged with two days forfeiture of pay. After the battle of Pozieres, Arnett participated in the battle of Flers. The first attack was unsuccessful due to the harsh, muddy conditions, making the soldiers easy targets for the German machine gunners.
During his time between to battle of Menin Road and Morlancournt, James Henry Arnett, was wounded in action by shell gas poisoning on 29th October 1917. He was admitted to 3rd A.F.A on 30th October, and was then admitted to 8th Sty, Hospital the next day. Arnett embarked for England per the H.S. St Andrew on 5th November and admitted to Horton war hospital in Epsom and was later discharged from hospital on 14th December. He later embarked for Australia per ‘Main’ on 23rd July, 1917. He was then discharged from the AIF at Melbourne on 14th January, 1920; because he was medically unfit. Arnett continued to live out his normal life with his wife and 4 children for several years. James Henry Arnett later died on 5th January, 1933; at the age of 48.[2]
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