Leone Fabre shares the story of family member James Herbert Clegg.

Joseph Clegg and Elizabeth Parr married in Victoria, Australia in 1875 and soon started their large family. First along came Alice in 1876 and then in quick succession came seven others before James Herbert Clegg came on the scene in June 1891 when they were living at Wandin Yallock. The Clegg family were considered one of the Pioneer Families of the Silvan District and much is written about them from their early days in that area. James Herbert Clegg enlisted in the AIF on the 3rd July 1915 at Melbourne and listed his father – Joseph Clegg – as his Next of Kin. He was given the service number 3279. Just 3 months later he embarked Melbourne on board the HMAT NESTOR bound for Egypt.

Messines was the first time Australians and New Zealanders had fought side by side since the Gallipoli campaign of 1915 and it was here – on Hill 63 – that James Herbert Clegg was Killed in Action on 2nd July 1917.

Read more about James Herbert Clegg on Leone’s Blog