James William Wisby was born in Preston, VIC and was living in Ballarat as a Brickmaker by trade when he enlisted in the 23rd Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement on 22 May 1915 at the age of 23. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A64 Demosthenes on 16 July 1915. . He reached Gallipoli at the end of August and within two weeks he had been wounded, suffering shell shock. He was evacuated to hospital at Mudros, but returned only to be wounded again in early December. He sustained a shrapnel wound to his back, in addition to further shell shock. This time it was decided he should return to Australia, and he did so on the Karoola, disembarking at Melbourne on February 22nd 1916. He was discharged in July as æmedically unfit – debility – nervous shock'.
Tree No 703