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James Henry Colton
| Name on Board | JH Colton |
| Name on Service Records |
James Henry Colton |
| Enlistment Age | Unknown |
| Occupation | Unknown |
| Place of Birth | Bayswater, Vic |
| Next of Kin | Henry and Georgina Colton |
| Address | 15 Miles Road, Richmond, Vic |
| Marital Status | S |
| Enlistment Date | Unknown |
| Service No. | 2952 |
| Enlistment Place | Melbourne, Vic |
| Embarkation Place | |
| Embarkation Date | |
| Embarkation Ship | |
| Unit on Embarkation | HMAS Huon, Royal Australian Navy |
| Date of Death | 21/10/1918 |
| Unit on Death | HMAS Huon, Royal Australian Navy |
| Rank on Death | Stoker Petty Officer |
| Cause of Death | Illness (Pneumonic Influenza) |
| Place of Wounding/ Death |
Genoa, Italy |
| Cemetery or Memorial | Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa, Italy |
Additional Information
James Henry Colton was serving on the HMAS Huon when he was admitted to the 51st Stationary Hospital, Genoa on 14 October 1918 with influenza. He died of a severe haemorrhage from the lungs on 21 October 1918.
Five seamen from the HMAS Huon died from an influenza outbreak while she was docked at Genoa for repairs. All are buried in the Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa Italy.
The HMAS Huon was the first warship to be wholly built in Australia, at Cockatoo Island dockyard, for the RAN. While in the Mediterranean, the Huon was one of three destroyers fitted with an observation balloon, principally to search for signs of submerged submarines. While on patrol on 8 August 1918, HMAS Huon collided with HMAS Yarra. She was subsequently docked at Genoa for repairs, where her crew were struck down by the influenza epidemic.
Notice of his death in the Richmond guardian notes that he had previously lived in Newport, Vic
Additional References
Richmond Guardian, Saturday 2 November 1918, p2
Matthew Smith Thesis: QUT ePrints, The Relationship Between Australians and the Overseas Graves of the First World War, p261
Australian War Memorial, HMAS Huon
Additional Documents and Photographs
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