Biographical notes:
Occupation: Fitter and turner improver (1911), Electrical wireman in SA Railways (1914-15).
Addresses (ENG): At birth (1891) - Church St, Wotton under Edge; At birth of sister Freda (1898) - 5 Raeburn St, West Brixton, LON; At birth of brother James (1901) & 1901 census - 71 Victoria Road, Charlton, LON; At 1911 census - 30 Halstow Rd, Westcombe Park, LON.
Addresses (AUS): 27 Albert St, Goodwood; At enlistment (1915) - South Tce (now 354 Cross Rd), Clarence Park, SA.
Migrated with parents to Adelaide, SA, AUS on the Ballarat ex Tilbury arriving 16 Oct 1912 after 1 month at sea.
Worked for a time in the SA Railways as an electrical wireman.
Enlisted in AIF 27th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements at Unley, 19 Jul 1915. Service reckoned from 2 Aug 1915. Rank: Private. Regimental number: 2627, height: 5'-10'', brown hair, blue eyes.
Embarked from Mitcham Camp at Colonel Light Gardens on HMAT Benalla 27 Oct 1915 for camp in Egypt. Admitted to hospital in Abbassia, Cairo 2 Feb 1916 with mild mumps. Discharged 22 Feb 1916.
Embarked on the Oriana at Alexandria on 21 Mar 1916. Disembarked at Marseilles 27 Mar 1916. Proceeded to join 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion at Etaples 25 Jun 1916. Proceeded to join unit 10 Jul 1916. Joined 27th Battalion 13 Jul 1916.
Killed in action 5 Aug 1916 at Pozières, FRA. Buried - site unknown.
Listed on: The National War Memorial, Canberra; The South Australian National War Memorial, Adelaide; Memorial Arch, Unley, SA; Honour Roll, Unley City Hall, SA; Honour Roll Adelaide Railway Station, SA; War Memorial, Wotton under Edge, GLS; Honour Roll, Wotton under Edge Town Hall, GLS; Sunday School Honour Roll, Wotton under Edge, GLS.
Reference documents:
1891 birth certificate.
1901 census return (James Deacon).
1911 census return (James Deacon).
1915-1916 war service records.
Photograph album.