Private James Henry Paul Maynard (7314)
(ABC News, 2017)
James Maynard was born on 2nd November 1895 in Cape Barren Island Tasmania to parents Ada and James Maynard. James was a proud ‘Truwana’ man (Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation 2017); he had two younger siblings, Jack born in September 1902, and a sister Lucy born in October 1904 (Koori Tree 1999). As a young man James worked as a labourer; however, like many young men at the time, James no doubt saw joining the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) as a chance for adventure and an opportunity to travel overseas (Australia Defence Force Academy 2016). His religion is listed as ‘Church of England’, no doubt due to the influence of early European settlers.
At the time of his enlistment James had two cousins named Frank and William Maynard who also joined the forces. James enlisted on the 20th September 1916 in Claremont, Tasmania. James was attached to the 12th Battalion and after initial basic training in Claremont he travelled to Adelaide where he disembarked on the HMAT Seang Bee (A48) on the 10th February 1917 (Monash University 2017). When he arrived in England he was hospitalised having contracted mumps on the 26th June 1917. Once released from hospital he joined the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp, England. He was then transported to France on the 9th October 1917 to join the 12th Battalion (ABC 2010).
(HMAT Seang Bee A48 -Don’t forget the Diggers, 2009).
James Maynard was twice wounded in action; the first at Passchendaele, where James was injured in his eye which saw him admitted to hospital again on the 6th August 1917 (National Archives of Australia, 2017). And again at The Hindenburg line on the 25th August 1918, James was injured by a gunshot wound to his left thigh (ABC, 2010). The injury saw him returned to England where he was hospitalised on the 28th of August 1918 (National Archives of Australia 2017). Medical staff applied a wax bath to his left thigh (National Archives of Australia 2017), which helped to increase blood flow, tolerance for pain and relaxed the muscles (Sports & Physical Injuries Clinic 2017). James did not re-join the front lines; he did however return to his training unit for a short period in December 1918, but was then returned to Australia on the 2nd September 1918 (ABC 2010). He arrived back on Australian soil on the 18thJuly 1919 (Australian Defence Force Academy 2016). His cousin Frank Maynard died in action and is buried at Pozieres and William was declared missing in action (MIA); his remains were never found (Monash University 2017).
(Carr Villa Cemetery, Tasmania 2017).
(Carr Villa Cemetery, Tasmania 2017).
After James returned home he married Augusta Mansell in the local Registry Office on the 12th January 1920 (Koori Tree 1999; Kildare College, 2015) they had eleven children. They are: James Douglas, Eileen Gordest, Vincent Paul, Baden Edward, Mary Frances, Rose Australia, Ulverstone, Neil Willis, Noel Henry, Joy Lavinia and an unnamed sibling who died at birth (Koori Tree 1999). James died from complications of pneumonia in Tasmania, Australia 1953, and is believed buried in an unmarked grave in Carr Villa Cemetery (Kildare College, 2015). He is survived by many descendants, among them Bradley Maynard who is currently serving in the Australian Defence Force. Like James, he is proud of his Indigenous heritage and proud to serve his country.
(Resting Place F1 - Carr Villa, Launcesto 2009).
Reference List:
ABC (2010) Private James Henry Paul Maynard; accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/awaye/private-james-henry-paul-maynard/3671092 Accssed on 10/9/2017
ADFA: Australian Defence Force Academy (2004 – 2016) James Henry Paul Maynard; accessed at https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=192354 Accessed on 10/9/2017
Australian War Memorial (2017) First world war embarktion roll James Henry Paul Maynard; accessed at https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1769673 accessed on 10/9/2017
Carr Villa, Launceston/map (2009) Carr Villa Memorial Park map, map; accessed at https://thegardensfamily.com/cemeteries/Launceston/CarrVilla/pages/map.htm accessed on 15/9/2017
Centeary of ANZAC Tasmania Rembers (2017) James Henry Maynrad, photo; accessed at http://www.centenaryofanzac.tas.gov.au/history/tasmanian_aboriginal_soldiers/james_henry_maynard accessed on 15/9/2017
Don’t forget the Diggers (2009) HMAT A48 S.S Seang Bee, photo; accessed at http://www.dontforgetthediggers.com.au/galleryImg_large.asp?galID=31&galImgID=167 accessed on 15/9/2017
Headstones from cemeteries of tasmania (2017) Section F1, Carr Villa memorial park, photo; accessed at http://www.ozgenonline.com/~riacaroline/CarrVillaF1.html accessed on 15/9/2017
Koori Tree (1999) Descendants of Mannalargenna; accessed at http://www.ivanlea.net/downloads/mannalargennaftm.htm accessed on 15/9/2017
Monash University (2017) Something to remember him by; accessed at http://future.arts.monash.edu/onehundredstories/something-to-remember-him-by/ accessed on 10/9/2017
National Archives of Australia (2017) Maynard James Henry Paul; accessed at https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx Accessed on 10/9/2017
National Archives of Australia (2017) Maynard, James Henry Paul; accessed at http://search.archives.tas.gov.au/default.aspx?detail=1&type=I&id=LSD188/1/5 Accessed 13/9/2017
Sports & Physical Injuries Clinic (2017) The Orb Paraffin Wax Treatment; accessed at http://www.injuries-clinic-oundle.co.uk/page8.htm accessed on 10/9/2017
Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation (2017) Aboriginal adn Dual Names and Places; accessed at http://tacinc.com.au/official-aboriginal-and-dual-names/ accessed on 15/9/2017
Year 10 Kildare College HASS class (2015) Generations of Service, Indigenous family biograpgies, Kildare College, Kildare College