ARBUCKLE, James
| Service Number: | 156 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 March 1915, An original member of A Company |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland, 1879 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fitter |
| Died: | Suicide, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia , 9 January 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Waverley Cemetery, Bronte, New South Wales W-15-CE-SL-6797 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 156, 17th Infantry Battalion, An original member of A Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 156, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 12 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 156, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Sydney | |
| 2 Sep 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 156, 17th Infantry Battalion, Discharged permanently unfit for service - diagnosed with disseminated sclerosis (MS). Service Medals: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
James was born in Scotland and it is not known when he came to Australia. He was probably born in 1879 or 1880. He enlisted in Sydney in March 1915, and was allocated to the 17th Battalion. He was about 35 years of age and was a big man, when he first tried to enlist in 1914, he was five foot ten inches tall and weighed fifteen stone, or over 95 kilograms. He stated on enlistment that he was a fitter and had served four years in the Scotch Greys and had been discharged after the Boer War.
James served on Gallipoli from the time the 17th Battalion arrived there during August 1915 until the evacuation.
He was sent to hospital sick on 17 February 1916, and diagnosed within days of ‘disseminated sclerosis’. The origin was noted as at Quinn’s Post, October 1915, with symptoms, gradually loss of power of speech, hands very shaky and weakness of grip. He was reduced to 13 stone in weight and was recommended for discharge.
James was returned to Australia on 12 April 1916 and discharged in Sydney during September 1916. He was awarded a pension of three pounds per fortnight after being diagnosed as totally incapacitated.
Less than four months later, James Arbuckle, a returned soldier, was reported in the Singleton Argus to have been invalided to Sydney a few months ago suffering from shell shock sustained at Gallipoli. He was found with self-inflicted wounds in a house and died while being taken to Sydney Hospital. At the inquest a witness stated that the soldier had suffered severely from nerves since his return from Egypt. A verdict of suicide was returned.
James Arbuckle was the son of Robert and Janet Arbuckle of Kirkliston, Edinburgh, Scotland.