TASSELL, James Dudley (1887-1963)

Modified on Thu, 29 Sep 2016 20:49 by Con — Categorized as: Biography - All, Biography - Students, Geelong College, Biography of War - World War I

TASSELL, James Dudley (1887-1963)

James Tassell was a day student at the Geelong College from 1901 to at least 1902.

James Tassell, circa 1903 (Cherry Album)

He was born on 21 August 1887 near Gisborne to parents Henry Tassell and Susan Sybella nee Collins of Faversham, Hawksburn. They were later living at the Victoria Hotel, Geelong when he was enrolled. In 1902, he won 1st Prize in Drawing.

'He enlisted at Ballarat on 9 July 1915 in the 2nd Australian General Hospital (Special Reinforcements), and embarked for Egypt on HMAT A71 Nestor on ll October 1915, where he was admitted to 4th Auxiliary Hospital, Cairo, on 3rd February 1916, suffering from cerebro-spinal meningitis. He transferred to 68 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps on 4 November 1916, and embarked from Alexandria on 13 January 1917. He was promoted Corporal on 2 September 1917 and Sergeant on 17 May 1918, and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, gazetted on 3rd June 1919. He returned to Australia, embarking on HMT Kaiser-i-Hind on 6 May 1919.'

Sources: Sydney Morning Herald 26 Nov 1963; 'Geelong Collegians at the Great War' compiled by James Affleck p327.