COMMONS, John Francis
| Service Number: | 5909 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 March 1916, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 23rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bright, Vic., 1897 |
| Home Town: | Fitzroy, Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Marist Brothers College Bendigo |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 4 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Ypres V J 20 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bendigo Marist Brothers College Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5909, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Melbourne, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 5909, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 5909, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement Sergeant, 5909, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5909 awm_unit: 23 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-10-04 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Denis and Ellen COMMONS, 10 Mark Street, Fitzroy, North Melbourne, Victoria
SERGEANT JOHN FRANCIS
COMMONS, Killed in Action.
We record with regret the death in action of Sergeant John Francis Commons on October 4th, notification of which has been received by his parents, Detective D. Commons and Mrs. Commons, who reside at 80 Falconer-street, North Fitzroy. The young soldier, who was only just 21 years of age, was born in Bright, and was educated at the Marist Brothers' College, Bendigo. At the age of 16 years he entered the State Savings Bank in that city, and also devoted much time to military matters. He gained his commission there with the cadets prior to his father's transfer to Melbourne in 1914, when he was also transferred to the head office of the State Savings Bank in Elizabeth street. He drilled a company of cadets in Preston for a time, and later was attached to the 60th Cadet Battalion, North Carlton, where he became first lieutenant.
Enlisting as a private in the A.I.F. in June, 1916, he joined the 16th reinforcements of the 23rd Infantry Battalion at Royal Park. He attended the N.C.O. school, and, passing the examinations, was made corporal. He sailed on the s.s. Nestor on October 2nd, 1916, and went to Salisbury Plains, where he went through the musketry school and Lewis machine-gun school at Tidworth. After very successfully passing examinations in both schools he was appointed a corporal instructor in musketry in England, which position he held till 10th June of this year, in spite of frequent applications to go to the firing line. In a letter dated September 27th he mentions that he had just come out of action, and had been promoted to the rank of sergeant and recommended for his good work. At the time of enlisting he was one of the leading players of St. John's Tennis Club, and also belonged to the Fitzroy Tennis Club. He was a devout member of the Sacred Heart Sodality and of the H.A.C.B. Society, Clifton Hill branch. His bright, manly disposition endeared him to a largE number of friends, who sincerely regret his death. R.I.P.
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