James Henry Maynard

When James Henry Paul Maynard enlisted for World War One on 20 September 1916, the answer to the question about previous military experience was “No – Evaded service”.

Although the enlistment form for Private Maynard stated he had previously evaded service, he pledged “to serve our sovereign King in the Australian Imperial Force from 19 September 1916 until the end of the war and a further period of four months thereafter.”

When Private Maynard, a labourer from Cape Barren Island Tasmania, arrived in England he was hospitalised first with the mumps and then injury. After release from hospital he joined 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp, England, and then proceeded to France on 9 October 1917 to join the 12th Battalion in Belgium.

On 25 August 1918 Private Maynard was wounded in action with a gun shot wound to the left thigh. Invalided to England for treatment he did not see service again, although he did rejoin his unit in December 1918 before he left England on 2 September 1919 bound for Australia were he was discharged on 18 October 1919.