KIRBY, James Joseph
| Service Number: | 2036 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 December 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Saddleworth, South Australia, 23 June 1887 |
| Home Town: | Port Augusta, Port Augusta, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Drover |
| Died: | Otitis Media Cerebral Abscess, Port Augusta Hospital, South Australia, 21 June 1930, aged 42 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Augusta Carlton Parade Cemetery RC, Block D, Plot 1 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Trooper, 2036, 9th Light Horse Regiment | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 1916: | Involvement Private, 2036, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: '' | |
| 10 Feb 1916: | Embarked Private, 2036, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Warilda, Adelaide | |
| 15 Nov 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, Trooper, 2036, 9th Light Horse Regiment |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
James was the son of John KIRBY (1857 - 1907) & Ellen HEFFERNAN (1843 – 10.06.1916) and was born on the 23rd of June 1887 in Saddleworth, SA.
His parents married on the 27th of May 1882 in St Stephen’s Church, Saddleworth, SA.
His father was the son of Patrick KIRBY and was born in 1857.
His mother was the daughter of Patrick HEFFERNAN & Ellen REILLY and was born in 1843 in Tipperary, Ireland.
James was the youngest born into this family of 3 children.
His mother was previously married to Patrick MURPHY and they had 6 children before Patrick died in Saddleworth on the 5th of January 1878.
James went to the Saddleworth public school and on leaving school he gained employment as a drover.
At the age of 28, James enlisted into the AIF on the 3rd of December 1915 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 2036 and posted to the 2nd Depot Battalion in Exhibition Camp.
He embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A69 Warilda on the 10th of February 1916, disembarked in Egypt. He then suffered badly with dysentery and a hernia and embarked from Suez for Australia on the 4th of July 1916 on board HS Karoola, disembarking on the 3rd of August in Melbourne.
He was entrained back to Adelaide and admitted into the 7th Australian General Hospital in Keswick, the following day.
James was discharged from the AIF on the 15th of November 1916 as the authorities believed he was not likely to become an efficient soldier.
On the 1st of May 1917 James re enlisted into the AIF in Pt Augusta and was allotted the service number S12002 and posted to B Company at Mitcham Camp.
He failed to report to his posting on the 7th and a warrant was issued on the 31st of May, but then cancelled when he was arrested in Petersburg.
He then deserted from Mitcham Camp on the 4th of July 1917and upon his arrest he was sentenced to 6 months hard labour for deserting and making false answers on his attestation paper.
James was discharged, medically unfit on the 22nd of October 1917 and went to Broken Hill.
James died of an Otitis Media Cerebral Abscess in the Pt Augusta Hospital on the 21st of June 1930 and was buried in the Pt Augusta Cemetery; RC, Row D, Plot 1.
Military
At the age of 28, James enlisted into the AIF on the 3rd of December 1915 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 2036 and posted to the 2nd Depot Battalion in Exhibition Camp.
He listed his mother, of Eleventh Street, Bowden, as his next of kin.
On the 16th of January he was transferred to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment, 15th Reinforcements in Mitcham Camp and then on the 10th of February he was transferred to the 9th Light Horse Regiment, 14th Reinforcements.
James embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A69 Warilda on the 10th of February 1916, disembarked in Egypt and taken on strength with the 3rd Reserve Regiment in Heliopolis on the 9th of March.
On the 22nd of April he was admitted into the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital in Tel-el-Kebir, suffering from Pyrexia.
He was then transferred in No.4 Hospital Train and admitted into the 1st Auxiliary Hospital in Luna Park, Heliopolis.
By tis time he had Dysentery and was diagnosed with an Inguinal Hernia, which had developed on the voyage.
James embarked from Suez for Australia on the 4th of July 1916 on board HS Karoola, disembarking on the 3rd of August in Melbourne.
He was entrained back to Adelaide and admitted into the 7th Australian General Hospital in Keswick, the following day.
James was discharged from the AIF on the 15th of November 1916 as the authorities believed he was not likely to become an efficient soldier. He and awarded the British War and Victory medal.
On the 1st of May 1917 James re enlisted into the AIF in Pt Augusta and was allotted the service number S12002 and posted to B Company at Mitcham Camp.
He listed his sister, Mrs. Mary Ann Kowitz, of 20 Eleventh Street, Bowden, as his next of kin.
He failed to report to his posting on the 7th and a warrant was issued on the 31st of May, but then cancelled when he was arrested in Petersburg.
He then deserted from Mitcham Camp on the 4th of July 1917and upon his arrest he was sentenced to 6 months hard labour for deserting and making false answers on his attestation paper.
James was discharged, medically unfit on the 22nd of October 1917