ARMY SERVICE CORPS - 34th BATTALION A.I.F.
Captain: James Egbert Arthur FLORANCE. O.B.E.
Born: 2nd March 1877. Mooroopna, Victoria.
Married: 1905. Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:3959/1905.
Wife: Eliza Ann Florance. nee: Pinkstone. (1879-1957) Born at Cootamundra, N.S.W. Birth Cert:14931/1879. Died at Manly, N.S.W. Death Cert:10782/1957.
Died: 25th October 1955. Manly, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:28588/1955.
Father: Egbert Harrall Messina Florance. (17.03.1854-16.10.1928) Died at Cootamundra, N.S.W. Death Cert:21115/1928.
Mother: Leila Gertrude Florance. nee: Paton. (1854-27.01.1923) Died at Cootamundra, N.S.W. Death Cert:141/1923.
INFORMATION
James Egbert Arthur Florance enlisted with the Army Service Corp before being transferred to the 34th Battalion AIF.
25th December 1917.
(1) Christmas Day 1917 was celebrated in good style and was made realistic by a snow fall. Food was ample and all Ranks enjoyed a traditional meal, accompanied by a plentiful supply of Beer. Fuel was in good supply and fires were kept going during the long evening. Whilst here Captain: James FLORANCE took over as Quartermaster from Lieutenant: 6 Frank William BAULCH who became Quartermaster of Brigade School. On 1st January 1918, New Years Day, the Battalion was relieved by the 171st Brigade and proceeded to de Seule hutmen Camp. Owing to a hard frost the marching was difficult. on the following day the march was continued via Bailleul to Meteron Billeting Area, where the Billets were very scattered. While here the frost broke, making the road very muddy and unpleasant for marching and transport. General Training was carried out, interspersed with Sports and Football Matches. During this period, Captain: Robert Joseph STEWART left the Battalion to take up special duty in England. Captain: Telford Graham GILDER. took over command of "A" Company and Lieutenant: 19583 Donald GRANTER became Transport Officer.
(1) A Short History of the 34th Battalion, Illawarra Press; 1957.
James returned to Australia on the 9th February 1918 with the 3rd Divisional Base Depot.
18th September 1918.
ORDER of the BRITISH EMPIRE
Captain FLORANCE has consistently displayed the greatest coolness, courage and determination under the most difficult circumstances. As Quartermaster throughout the Operations of March and April and later in the recent Operations in the vicinity of the SOMME it was entirely due to his energy and unfailing enthusiasm that the Battalion regularly received their rations, frequently through heavy shell fire and under extremely difficult conditions.
Brigadier General: Henry Arthur GODDARD. Commanding Officer 9th Australian Infantry Brigade AIF.
Served during World War 2 N233769 on the 2nd April 1942.
Family Information
James was a married 38 year old Solicitor, Farmer/Grazier from "Longsight" Baan Baa N.S.W. upon enlistment.
In 1875 the Mooroopna Hospital had its beginnings in a small hut on the north bank of the Goulburn River near the pumping station at Mooroopna. Mr Egbert Florence was the local chemist and he helped out in times of medical need. Progress saw the first local doctor attend to patients in 1877 with nurse, Mrs Eatwell and the hotel keeper Mr John Hardy helping out patients at night when Dr Dowson couldn’t attend. Dr Trood was appointed surgeon to the hospital in 1880 until he resigned in 1892 and went to Melbourne . Dr J W Florance was house surgeon in 1892 and was associated with the hospital for 44 years. After residing in several Victorian towns, Leila and Egbert Florance finally settled with their large family at Cootamundra in NSW. Eleven children were born over a 26 year period.
Egbert Harrell and Leila Gertrude Florance are both buried at the Manly Cemetery Row Y Plot 38. James Florance lived at Seaforth, N.S.W. before his death in 1955.
Manly Cemetery
Military Records
© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)
Under Construction; 10/01/2014-18/07/2020.
