Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Jacob and Elizabeth Volk of Balcombe Raod, Mentone, Victoria

His death was attributed to misadventure when he attempted to get out of a moving train and falling on his head and breaking his neck

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British Medal, Victory Medal

Also served for 3 years with the Prahran Volunteer's Forces

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland

Died on this date – 27th January.... Private James Volk was born at Yarraville, Victoria in 1890. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 15th August, 1914 as a 24 year old Driver from East Prahran, Victoria.

Private James Volk embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Orvieto (A3) on 21st October, 1914 then embarked from Alexandria on 22nd May, 1915.
Private Volk was sent to Hospital at Anzac on 21st August, 1915 & embarked for England from Mudros on 24th August, 1915. He was admitted to Princess Club Hospital at Bermondsey, London on 9th September, 1915 suffering from Shock.

Private Volk was transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, Middlesex on 25th September, 1915 & a Medical Report was completed as he was suffering from Shell Explosion & Shock which had occurred at Gallipoli on 14th August, 1915. The facts of the case were “After four months & a week in trenches, a shell exploded in front of him blinding him for a short time, deafness for two or three hours and insomnia.” It was recommended that Private James Volk be discharged from Active War Service but was fit for Home Service. He was discharged from Hospital on 7th October, 1915.

Private James Volk died on 27th January, 1916 as a result of a Railway accident (misadventure) in Hertfordshire, England.

An Inquest was held into the death of Private James Volk on 28th January, 1916 (full details can be found in my research following the link below)

A report was made by John Hammond Galbraith, Westminster, who watched the Inquest of behalf of the Australian Commonwealth, to The Official Secretary, Commonwealth of Australia which reads:
"Private James Volk deceased
I beg to report that I attended the adjourned Inquest upon the body of the above-named deceased at Rickmansworth yesterday in accordance with the instructions of Colonel Buckley. The evidence showed the deceased prevented Miss Reynolds a lady passenger from leaving the midnight train from London to Aylesbury, on the 26th ult. at Northwood Station, but that she managed to get out shortly after and was found wandering on the line. The body of Private Yolk was found further on, together with various articles belonging to Miss Reynolds. Miss Reynolds alleged that she remembered nothing after leaving the train and could not identify Private Yolk by his photograph, which was produced. In summing up the Coroner at my suggestion put before the Jury, the view that the deceased in an attempt to render help to Miss Reynolds, collected her articles and got out of the train and in doing so, unfortunately fell on his head, breaking his neck. The Jury evidently adopted this view and returned a verdict of Death from misadventure."

Private James Volk was buried in Chorleywood Road Cemetery, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/rickmansworth.html