James Archibald Francis Stodart

STODART, James Archibald Francis- – – – SPC 1908-1910

DoB:- – 1891, Korongvale, VIC

Father:- – James Archibald Stodart, Bank of Australasia, Ballarat branch

Mother:- – Amelia Mary, nee Moore

James was a boarder at St Patrick’s from Melbourne, with his brother, John Harold (SPC 1908-1910) who also enlisted for service.

Service No: – 2068

Rank:- – Private

Unit:- – 4th Light Horse Brigade, later Anzac Cyclist Corps

James Stodart enlisted on 6 January 1916. He was 25 years and four months old, a single man who worked as a wool classer. He was five feet, ten and three quarter inches tall, with a sallow complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair.

He embarked from Melbourne on 28 January 1916 aboard the Themistocles, disembarking in Egypt. While at Heliopolis he was transferred from the 4th Light Horse Brigade to the Anzac Cyclist Corps. He then proceeded to France with this unit on 25 March 1916, arriving at Marseilles.

In June 1916, while still in France, he was admitted to hospital sick with bronchitis. He was so ill that he was sent back to England for treatment, where he was diagnosed with pleurisy, on 5 July. By 12 December 1916, he was able to rejoin his unit in France. However, by 24 December he was returned to England with the diagnosis, severe PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin). Basically, a fever that could not be attributed to a specific cause, but often brought on by severe nervous stress.

On 10 January 1918, he was returned to Australia on the Corinthic for a -‘change’. He was discharged from the AIF on 24 April 1918.

The College was unable to trace James Archibald Stodart after his return to Australia.