James Houlker served on Gallipoli with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion (13th Canterbury Regiment). He was twice wounded, on 5 June 1915 (action at Quinn’s Post) and again during the August Offensive he received a gunshot wound to the thigh. He was evacuated from Anzac Cove to a Hospital ship, but was in a very feeble state and died on board the HS "Valdivia" on 10.8.1915 and was buried at sea near Anzac Cove.

At the outbreak of WW1 the Webley Mk V (adopted in 1913) was the standard issue British revolver but was soon superseded by the MK VI.