James Hogg Parkin was born in Geelong and was an Engine Cleaner in Ballarat by trade when he enlisted in the 24th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement on 20 July 1915 at the age of 23. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT RMS Osterley on 29 September 1915. He disembarked in Egypt where, in January 1916 he joined the 24th Battalion. He moved to France in March, and on August 5th he was wounded in action, although the nature of his wound is not in his service record. Less than three weeks later he was hospitalised again suffering from influenza. He was wounded again on May 3rd 1917 when he received a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. Once recovered he returned to his unit only to be wounded for a third time on October 4th 1917. He sustained shrapnel wounds to his right arm and head and was evacuated to hospital in France. He rejoined his battalion a month later and served through the remainder of the war without further injury. He returned to Australia on the Trasos Montes and disembarked at Melbourne on May 22nd 1919.
Tree No. 1417