WEATHERSPOON, John
| Service Number: | 801 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 January 1916, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Two Wells, South Australia, 13 September 1884 |
| Home Town: | Two Wells, Mallala, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France , 19 February 1917, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres Plot 3, Row E Grave 22. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kimba Men Roll of Honour, Kimba War Memorial, Mallala Two Wells Pictorial Honour Roll 2, Two Wells WW1 Memorial, Two Wells WW1 War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 801, 43rd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 801, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 801, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Son of Charles WEATHERSPOON and Sarah nee GLADMAN of Two Wells, SA
BEFORE THE WAR
John Weatherspoon was born in September in the year 1884 in Two Wells, South Australia. Before enlisting, he worked as a labourer, meaning that his occupation included ‘backbreaking’ physical work, long hours and, perhaps, dangerous conditions. John Weatherspoon was unmarried and had no children, and he had a fair complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. He was 5 feet 3' ½ inches tall (161 cm) with a weight of 132lbs (60kg) and had not enlisted in any previous military service. John’s next of kin was his mother, Sarah Weatherspoon and his father, M.C. Weatherspoon. John, his mother, father and two brothers all lived in Two Wells, South Australia. John’s two siblings were Sydney George and Herbert Leonard. Sydney George and Herbert were both enlisted into the war but only Sydney George returned.
DURING THE WAR
On the 8th of January 1916, at the age of 31, John signed up at an enlistment office in Keswick, South Australia. John was admitted to hospital on the 11th of March 1916 with an infection and discharged after 53 days on the 3rd of May 1916. On the 9th of June 1916, he boarded HMAT (His Majesty's Australian Transport) A19 Afric to sail from Adelaide to Egypt. After a quick stop in Egypt, he went to Britain for further training on Salisbury Plain before heading to France.
John Weatherspoon died at the age of 32 on the 19th of February 1917. According to the 43rd Battalion's war diary, the battalion was engaged in routine trench warfare in the Armentieres sector. He was buried at the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery (Plot III, Row E, Grave 22), Armentieres, France.
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