Vass, James Johnston (Jock) (2044)

Place of Birth: Walworth, England

Age: 29 years 1 month

Enlistment Details: Monday, 11 January 1915 – Melbourne, VIC

Service Number: 2044            view online service record

Address:
127 Clark Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Next of Kin:
William Vass (brother)
12 Nelson Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Embarkation Details:
Date: Saturday, 17 April 1915
Ship: HMAT Hororata A20
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 7th Infantry Battalion – 5th Reinforcements

Fate:
DOW: Tuesday, 25 July 1916
Place: France

Lance Sergeant, 59 Infantry, killed in action 25 July, 1916, France, aged 31, commemorated Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension.

Parents: deceased, brother: William VASS, born Ayr, Scotland according to his circular (arrived c. 1906 at 21 years), educated Royal Caledonian, Pentonville, London. Vass was a 29-year-old carpenter/joiner who enlisted from 127 Clark Street, his brother returning the circular from 30 Stokes Street. Known as “Jock”, family notices have a fiancée May DONAGHY who died at Port Melbourne (also Clark Street) on July 23, 1914. Died of gunshot wounds to the abdomen, No 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station.

Additional research by Brian Membrey

Corporal Vass was given a social evening at the Temperance Hall by the Swimming Club on Wednesday, 31 March 1915.

1915 ‘SOCIAL EVENING.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 10 April, p. 3, viewed 31 March, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91168587

James survived a narrow escape when unbeknown to him a bullet passed through his cap and singed his hair.

1915 ‘LIFE IN THE TRENCHES.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 6 November, p. 2, viewed 12 October, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91168186

James was popularly known around the swimming club as ‘Jock’.

1916 ‘SWIMMING CLUB NOTES.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 19 August, p. 2. , viewed 05 Aug 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91163634

J Vass was listed on the Swimming Club Roll of Honour, 25 November 1916.

1916 ‘ROLL OF HONOR.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 25 November, p. 2. , viewed 04 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91164781