James Edward Grabham

Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown
Place of Birth	Cheltenham, England
Death	5 Sep 1939, aged 60
Place of Death	Fremantle, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	38 years, 6 months
Description	5' 10½" (1.79m) tall; weight 135 lbs (61.2 kg); tanned complexion, grey eyes, brown hair
Occupation	orchardist
Religion	Church of England
Address	Roleystone, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Harriet Grabham
Military Information
Reg Number	2414
Date of Enlistment	3 Apr 1916
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	51st Battalion, 5th Reinforcement transferred to 12th Training Battalion
Date of Embarkation	20 Sep 1016 - 15 Nov 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A66 Uganda
Date of Return	10 Jan 1919 - 10 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A35 Berrima
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott
Medals	British War Medal

Pre War

1900 married Harriet Rouse who was 15 years older than him.

Electoral Roll details - 1903 a labourer living in Nelson street Beaconsfield where son Edward James was born (1903) but died before his first birthday; 1910 a marine dealer at 150 Marmion street East Fremantle; 1916 a carpenter in Croyden road Roleystone.

War Service

CALL TO ARMS; TO-DAYS RESPONSE; JUST SHORT OF THE HUNDRED. For a week now the response of would-be recruits to the enlisting office at Francis-street has been over the hundred, but to-day only 98 came forward. Of these 43 were declared fit,- but only 37 were sworn in, the cases of five being deferred for further consideration; the balance (56) were rejected. Following are the lists: FIT FOR SERVICE. ..... J. E. Grabham, Roleystone, Kelmscott ...

On arrival in England James was sent to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford. On 30 Mar 1917 he was made EDP Corporal for 3 months at Codford before he reverted to the ranks, remaining with the 13th Training Battalion. On 26 Jun 1918 he was appointed acting Sergeant before transferring to the 12th Training Battalion which added him to their permanent cadre on the same day (RQMS No 7 Camp, Hurdcott).

Does not appear to have reached France or Belgium on duty. Return to Australia was for medical reasons - sciatica.

Discharged 5th Military District 31 Mar 1919.

Post War

Electoral Roll details - 1919 - 1920 living in Third road, Armadale; 1925 a watchman living at 21 Wardle street, South Fremantle with wife Harriet before moving to 56 Brisbane street North Perth where he was described as a grocer. In 1931 they are in Spencer street Albany where James was a house renovator. Harriet died in Albany in 1934 aged 70, so in 1937 James was by himself in 30 Hampton road, Fremantle, a handyman where he in turn died in 1939, aged 60.