SPELLMAN, John Joseph
| Service Number: | 733 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 40th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia, 10 June 1894 |
| Home Town: | Upper Castra, Central Coast, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Upper Castra State School,Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 29 September 1918, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Unicorn Cemetery, Vendhuile Plot IV, Row F, Grave 12 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ulverstone Baptist Church Honour Roll, Ulverstone Shrine of Remembrance, Ulverstone Upper Castra District Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 733 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 733, 40th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 733, 40th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Hobart | |
| 29 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 733, 40th Infantry Battalion, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 733 awm_unit: 40th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-09-29 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Michael Spellman, Upper Castra, Ulverstone, Tasmania
General regret was expressed when it became known that another of our brave lads, Lance-Corporal J.J. Spellman, had made the supreme sacrifice in France. 'Jack' was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. M. Spellman, and was very popular with all classes of the community. This young soldier left Tasmania with the 40th Battalion, and had only been back in the firing line a few weeks after recovering from severe wounds received about 12 months ago. The sympathy of the whole district goes out to the bereaved family in their great loss.
Mr. M. Spellman, of Upper Castra, has received very consolatory letters from officers in the A.I.F. concerning the death of his son, Sergt. J.J. Spellman, who was killed in action on September 29 last. Lieut. Lakin records that Sergt. Spellman had been in his platoon since he came back after recocery from his Passchendale wounds in 1917, and 'he had at all times shown himself an example of good nature, kindness and devotion to duty. He was very well liked and respected by the whole company'. Another account stated that he was shot dead by a sniper, and the writer, Sergt. Lapthrone, states that 'he was a very brave lad'. Lieut. Dell in a letter of touching sympahty remarkes that 'he was a very brave lad and the best boy in the platoon'.
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