Grant, James Alexander (4703)

Place of Birth: Williamstown, VIC

Age: 29 years 3 months

Enlistment Details: Monday, 31 January 1916 – Melbourne, VIC

Service Number: 4703            view online service record

Address:
30 Wordsworth Street
Moonee Ponds, VIC

Next of Kin:
Rosabella Grant (wife)
30 Wordsworth Street
Moonee Ponds, VIC

Embarkation Details:
Date: Tuesday, 4 April 1916
Ship: HMAT Euripides A14
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 23rd Infantry Battalion – 12th Reinforcements

Fate:
KIA: Thursday, 3 May 1917
Place: France

Private, 23 Infantry, killed in action 3 May, 1917, France, aged commemorated Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France.

Parents: D and Mrs Catherine GRANT, wife, Mrs Rosabella GRANT, born Williamstown, educated Nott Street SS. A 29-year-old paper cutter, he enlisted with his wife in Moonee Ponds. His mother returned the circular from Brunswick noting four unnamed cousins killed and Port Melbourne as principal place of association. Commemorated Port Melbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Roll. He was posted Missing on 3 May, 1917, declared killed in action on that date by a Court of Inquiry, December. Only son, one sister.

“I was told by Cpl. H. Harris (23 Aust. M.G. Section) that Pte. James Alexander Grant (23 A.M.G) was killed by a shell on May 3rd at Bullecourt. The 23rd Battalion was with the 2nd Pioneers out there. I was told on the day it happened, I knew James Grant in Melbourne. He was blown to pieces (L/Cpl John William Munro, 1760, 2nd Australian Pioneers. Home address 77 Station Street, Port Melbourne) Grant was also from Port Melbourne and is included in the database)

Additional research by Brian Membrey

Other addresses at 16 Wilson Street, Moonee Ponds and 43 Albert Street, Port Melbourne.

Amidst some scandal, James’ widow, Rosabella Grant (nee Perazzo), ‘married’ George Arthur Brown after the war.

Rosabella was the sister of Joseph Henry, George Vincent and William Victor Perazzo.

George Vincent Perazzo embarked for the war on the SS Makarini as part of the 8th Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements in February 1916. Perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not, George Arthur Brown also sailed on the SS Makarini in February 1916 although he was part of the 8th Infantry Battalion, 9th Reinforcements.

Pte J McKissock wrote to the Editor of the Standard from France on 9 April 1917 saying that the newspaper was enjoyed by all the Port Melbourne boys at the front.  He enclosed the issue of 6 January 1917 signed by the soldiers from Port who had read it.  J A Grant was one of those men.

1917 ‘”STANDARD” IN THE TRENCHES.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 30 June, p. 1. , viewed 22 Aug 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88367848