BANKS, James Bruce

James Banks was 22 when he enlisted and gave his occupation as a motor body builder, having completed a four year apprenticeship with A.G. Hampstead of Elsternwick. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs. Mary Banks of 15 Albert St., East Melbourne, but he himself was living at 9 Dudley Parade, Canterbury. He joined up early, on 15 July, 1915, and after training was given the rank of Acting Corporal embarked on the the 'Orsova' for Suez. Here he attached to the No. 17 Squadron at Heliopolis on 21/4/1916. By 12 June, he had been admitted to hospital in Cairo with 'shortness of breath following exertion'. He was discovered to have problems with his heart, possibly related to having 'rheumatism'  (perhaps rheumatic fever?) when he was twelve. Subsequentlym he was transferred back to the 1st Auxiliary and then sent home via the 'Karoola' and discharged from the armed sevices. The last information on his whereabouts is in his record - an inquiry withit the army in response to  letter from his relatives in August 1955  inquiring about his war service. James Banks had worked at the Crown Law Offices in Melbourne as a Clerk of Petty Sessions and had recently died.