WALL, John
| Service Number: | 270 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 January 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 22nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Gowangardie, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Violet Town, Strathbogie, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Earlston State School |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Non Battle Casualty, France, 5 August 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Serre Road Cemetery No.2 Beaumont Hamel, France Serre Road Cemetery No 2, Beaumont Hamel, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Euroa Fallen of Euroa District Honour Roll, Euroa Telegraph Park, Euroa War Memorial, Violet Town Earlston State School No. 2850 Honour Board, Violet Town Honour Roll WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 270, 22nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 270, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 270, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 5 Aug 1916: | Involvement Corporal, 270, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 270 awm_unit: 22 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-08-05 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Elsa Reuter
WALL John 270 TCPL
22nd Battalion
1891-1916
The next Wall brother to enlist was John, on 22nd January 1915, the same day as Bert and second in line. So his service number was 270 and like Bert, was drafted into the 22nd Battalion.
He, like Bert, did his preliminary training before boarding HMAT Ulysses in early May, bound for Egypt. The troops were constantly training, toughening up for conditions on Gallipoli, where they remained until the evacuation in December.
Back in Egypt the 22nd Battalion embarked from Alexandria to arrive in Marseilles on 26 March. In July John was appointed CPL after training at Burkhill camp in England.
Less than a week later, on 5 August, in action at Pozieres, John was killed by the same shell that killed his brother Bert.
He was buried at Serre Road Cemetery, Plot 19, Row L, Grave No 16.
In November 1927 the following letter was received by John’s father written in October:
‘Dear sir,
. . . I am forwarding herewith wristlet watch recovered from the person of the late No 270 Corporal J Wall, 22nd Battalion at the time of his burial in Serre Road Cemetery No 2. This memento, though greatly impaired by long exposure will doubtless be valued by you on account of its intimate association with your son and I trust comes safely to hand.
Yours faithfully,
Officer i/c Base Records.’
It was addressed to Mr J J Wall
‘Walpa
Via Lindenow
Vic.’
John’s father received a Memorial Scroll and Plaque as well as John’s service medals which were the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Memorials: Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Main Honour Board, Memorial Hall, Violet Town.
Earlston State School Honour Board
Copper Plaque affixed to exterior wall, Memorial Hall.
Tree No 78 was planted in 2013 in Orchid Street in 2013 by Betty Opie and Merle Carmichael, nieces.
© 2016 Sheila Burnell
Click images to start slideshow.