Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Port Melbourne’ for UK.13.10.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 16th Reinf. 27th Bn. AIF.
Howell disembarked with the 16th Reinf. 27th Bn. at Devonport UK 28.12.1916. He marched in to the 7th Training Bn. at Rollestone 29.12.1916 for 3 months intensive training. Howell proceeded overseas to France 25.2.1917. He was taken on Strength with 27th Bn. 9.5.1917 and entered the  trenches. The 27th Bn was not engaged in a major battle until September 1917. Howell was admitted to hospital sick with suspected TB- lung disability 4.8.1917 and was then transferred per HS ‘St. Peter’ to England 19.8.1916. He was admitted to Graylingwell Hospital, Chichester with Pleurisy 20.8.1917 and then transferred to Harefield Hospital 26.9.1917. He was listed for early return to Australia and invalided with fibrous lungs 5.11.1917. He  marched in to Weymouth 5.11.1917 for return to Australia.
Embarked Weymouth per HMAT A32 ‘Themistocles’ 5.11.1917.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 23.12.1917.
Discharged 16.1.1918.
Final Rank Private 27th Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Invalided with fibrous lungs.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos  HMAT 'Port Melbourne ' A16 21.10.1916. Photographer Barnes Josiah. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM PB0900
              Wards at the No.1 General Hospital, Harefield, London 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H03592
              HMAT 'Themistocles' at Fremantle. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P304038

Information Source
AWM PB0900. HMAT 'Port Melbourne ' A16 21.10.1916. Photographer Barnes Josiah. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H03592. Wards at the No.1 General Hospital, Harefield, London 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P304038.  HMAT 'Themistocles' at Fremantle. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Rolls James Norman Howell
NAA: B2455 Howell, James Norman 5942
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories.

Woodbridge Tce. Midland Junction. WA.
East Street, East Guildford . WA. (father family home)

Associated Images