James KERSHAW
Year of Birth: 1889
Place of Birth: Lancashire, England
Date of Enlistment: 15 August 1916
Date and Place of Embarkation: 7 October 1916, Sydney, New South Wales
Ship: HMAT Ceramic A40
Rank: Private
Unit(s): 52nd Australian Infantry Battalion – 2 to 9 Reinforcements
Regimental Number: 2685
Died: 2 April 1917
James Kershaw was born c1890 in Reddish, Lancashire, England to William Kershaw and Emily Massey. William and Emily were married 25 April 1886 in Reddish. In 1901 James was still living in Lancashire with his siblings, William, James, Edith and Lilliam. His father William worked on the cotton mill machines. James attended the Reddish Day School.
After his arrival in Queensland James made several attempts to join the army and after undergoing an operation was successful with his application.
On his enlistment in Cairns his gave his age as 27 years 3 months, occupation a Salesman and next of kin his mother Mrs Emily Kershaw, 152 Gorton Road, Stockport, England. His height was 5 feet 4 inches, weighed 136 pounds with fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His religion was Methodist.
James Kershaw was killed in action, Bapaume, Somme Sector, France 2 April 1917, no known grave. He is remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
Online Resources
Photograph of the HMAT Ceramic A40, Australian War Memorial
NAA: B2455 James Kershaw, National Archives of Australia
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