James Henry TRAILL

Regimental number15260
Date of birth22 January 1896
Place of birthDunedin
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationCabinetmaker
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 4.5"
Weight126 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs S O'Donnell, 152a Dundas Street, Dunedin
Previous military serviceServed in Senior Cadets, Dunedin, until age 18; not serving in any military unit at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date6 April 1916
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 15th Reinforcements, 1st Draft, Otago Infantry Battalion, D Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board Waitemata on 26 July 1916
Final rankPrivate
Final unit2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
FateKilled in Action 12 October 1917
Age at death from cemetery records22
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsTyne Cot Memorial (New Zealand Apse, Panel No 3), nr Ieper, Belgium
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Sarah O'Donnell (formerly Traill), 15 Dundas Street, Dunedin, and the late Mr J.A. Traill
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 25 July 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 3 October 1916, and marched into Sling Camp.

Proceeded overseas to France, 15 November 1916; joined 2nd Bn. Otago Infantry Regiment, in the field, 4 December 1916, and posted to 14th Company.

Found guilty, 5 February 1917, of loss of Government property: awarded 2 days' Field Punishment No 2, and ordered to pay cost of shirt (2/6).

Detached to 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Company, 4 May 1917; rejoined unit, 21 May 1917.

Detached to Corps School, Morbecque, 12 July 1917; rejoined Bn, 14 September 1917.

Reported missing, 12 October 1917.

Court of Enquiry, 19 November 1917, concluded: 'No further information. Killed in action, 12 October 1917.'

Buried: burial reported by Canadian Graves Registration Commission, Grave Serial No C.C.80; grave subsequently lost.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 37, p. 12
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 22013102

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