Private James Patrick Carroll

James Patrick Carroll was born at Richmond, Victoria, to parents James Patrick Carroll and Mary Jane Carroll (née Obrien ) in 1883. He was the youngest of three children and had two sisters. Carroll was employed as a manager and tobacconist and was living at St. Kilda, Victoria, at the time of his enlistment.

Carroll enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Melbourne on 13 December 1917 and was attached to the 8th Reinforcements for the 39th Battalion as a private. He embarked from Sydney for Egypt aboard the troopship Wiltshire on 2 February 1918. During the voyage, Carroll participated in a concert held on 14 February 1918 in which he sang “The bandolero” as a solo and “The battle eve” in a duet.

Carroll disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on 11 March 1918. On 20 March, he embarked from Alexandria and arrived at Southampton, England on 20 April 1918. There he was taken on strength with the 9th Training Battalion at Fovant for battle training. In June, he was transferred to the 46th Battalion. On 15 July, Carroll was sent to France and taken on strength with the 46th Battalion. On 29 August he was transferred to the 37th Battalion, which at this time was involved in a battle near Cléry-sur-Somme that preceded the major battle of Mont St Quentin.

On 30 September 1918, Carroll was wounded in action by a gas shell during a battle near Vendhuile, France, which formed part of the larger battles on the Hindenburg Line and the St Quentin Canal. Carroll was admitted to the 3rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France, and later to the Australian Convalescent Depot at Le Havre, from which he was discharged on 15 November 1918. On 19 November, Carroll was taken on strength with the 8th Battalion. Following a period of leave in England in March 1919, Carroll rejoined his unit in France. During May 1919 he was sent to England for returning to Australia.

Carroll embarked from England for Australia aboard the troopship Persic on 13 July 1919. He disembarked at Melbourne on 29 August and was discharged on 21 August 1919.

Very little is recorded about Carroll’s life after his discharge. He never married and appears to have returned to his pre-war occupation as a manager. He lived at a boarding house run by his mother in St Kilda, Victoria. From about 1934 until his death, Carroll is recorded as living at the same address in St. Kilda with the occupation of farmer. James Patrick Carroll died at Windsor, Victoria, on 5 October 1965 at the age of 82.