James HASTINGS

HASTINGS, James

Service Number: Q187722
Enlisted: 1 July 1940
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 15 Garrison Battalion (QLD)
Born: Edinburgh, Scotland, 8 September 1891
Home Town: Mackay, Mackay, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Waterside Worker
Died: Cairns, Queensland, Australia, 28 December 1953, aged 62 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Cairns (General) Cemetery, Queensland
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Private, Q187722
1 Jul 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q187722, 15 Garrison Battalion (QLD)
2 Feb 1943: Discharged
2 Feb 1943: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q187722, 15 Garrison Battalion (QLD)

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Private James Hastings (Service No:Q187722) served with the ACMF from 27 June 1940 to 2 February 1943. Classified as a Cook, Private Hastings served with 1 and 15 Garrison Battalions. He provided a later DoB in his Attestation Papers - he was born on 8 September 1887 and not on 8 September 1891. James' three sons - James Jn, George and Alexander served in WWII.

Born in 1887 in Edinburgh Scotland, James Barr Hastings was seventh of eight children of James Hastings Snr (b1841 in Edinburgh, Sotland) and Elizabeth Baigent (b1847 in Hampshire, England). James Snr (a Soldier) and Elizabeth married in 1868 in Hampshire  and lived in London (where James Snr was an Arsenal Labourer) before settling in Edinburgh where they raised their family and James Snr was a Labourer and Army Pensioner.

James (a Labourer in Edinburgh, Scotland) married Margaret Bull (b1890 in Inverness-shire, Scotland) in 1909. James then served with the British Army for twelve years, including five years in France during WWI with the Highlanders, and was Mentioned in Despatches. In 1927 James and Margaret immigrated with their family, arriving in Brisbane, QLD on board the Orvieto and settling in Mackay, QLD where James was a Waterside Worker. James died in 1953 and Margaret in 1955.

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