James Vincent Flynn was born in Casterton, VIC and was a Labourer by trade when he enlisted from Ballarat in the 39th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement on 11 May 1916 at the age of 30. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on 25 September 1916. In April 1917 he joined the 39th Battalion in France where he was wounded in action on June 7th. He suffered severe gunshot or shrapnel wounds to his face, chest and left shoulder and was evacuated to hospital in London. It was a year before he was fit to return to active service, rejoining the 39th Battalion in late June 1918. On August 10th during the fighting near Amiens he was again wounded, gassed, and once more evacuated to England where he saw out the last three months of the war. He returned to Australia on the Soudan, reaching Melbourne on June 29th 1919.

His brother, SN 6506 Patrick Phillip Flynn (Tree No 2401) also served.
Tree No 2399