James Jacob Orvad

First Name: 
James
Middle Name: 
Jacob
Last Name: 
Orvad
Mother's Name: 
Honora Orvad nee Madden
Father's Name: 
Jens Orvad
Date Enlisted: 
Saturday, October 31, 1914
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
13th Battalion
Company: 
H
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Tuesday, April 29, 1924
Place of Death: 
Bulli, N.S.W.
Details: 

James Orvad was born in Wollongong, N.S.W. around 1877 and attended Bulli Public School.  His family owned the Denmark Hotel at Bulli, N.S.W.

James served 4 years in the Militia before he enlisted with the AIF.

James first enlisted (Service No 1142) at the age of 35, when worked as an engineer at the Coledale Colliery. 

Interestingly, James stated on his first enlistment papers that he was married, although he nominated his sister, Mrs Holden of Kiama, as his next-of-kin.  When James re-enlisted in December 1916, James stated he was single and again nominated his sister as next-of-kin.

James embarked from Melbourne on HMAT A38 Ulysses with H Company, 13th Battalion, on 22nd December 1914.  The troops arrived in Egypt in early 1915 and James was sent on to Gallipoli.  James service records show that he was wounded on 3rd May 1915, but no more detail is given and the next entry records 'Rheumatic Fever'.  Whatever the reason, he was evacuated to hospital in Egypt for treatment.  

James was returned to Australia in November 1915 and discharged medically unfit on 16th June 1916.

On 11th December 1916 James re-enlisted (Service No 1917) and embarked from Melbourne with 5th Railway Section on HMAT A11 Ascanius on 11th May 1917.  The troops arrived in England on 20th July 1917 and James joined 16th Railway Section in France on 5th September 1917.

Once again James' frail health resulted in his being unfit to serve, and he was returned to Australia in April 1918 and discharged medically unfit on 10th October 1918.

James died in 1924. His body was found in a park in Bulli, and a Coronial Inquest found that James had died of natural causes.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, ORVAD JAMES