SLATTERY, John
| Service Number: | 107 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 1st Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Wellington, New South Wales, Australia, 26 May 1887 |
| Home Town: | Leichhardt, Leichhardt, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Bodangora Public School and Peak Hill (Catholic) Convent School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Mine carpenter |
| Died: | Wounds, Aboard Dunluce Castle, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 8 August 1915, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Leichhardt War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sapper, 107, 1st Field Company Engineers | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Sapper, 107, 1st Field Company Engineers, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Sapper, 107, 1st Field Company Engineers, HMAT Afric, Sydney | |
| 9 May 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sapper, 107, 1st Field Company Engineers, ANZAC / Gallipoli, SW to head - slight | |
| 7 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sapper, 107, 1st Field Company Engineers, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW to abdomen DoW aboard Dunluce Castle |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Vicki Smith
On 19Aug1914 Jack enlisted - the day after his brother Robert Andrew 'Bob'. Jack's Army number was 107 - he was aged 28 years and had been employed as a mine carpenter in various mines.
He had served in the Australian Rifles for 3 years prior to joining up. Jack was 5ft 8in tall, 11 st in weight, having fair complexion and medium hair,
sufficient (sic) eyes. He was appointed to No 1 Field Coy Engineers AIF as a private in 107th Regiment. His next of kin was older brother
Cornelius Slattery, of St Elmo, Ainsworth St, Leichhardt in Sydney (Hensworth St on some records - Sydney UBD checked - only Ainsworth St)
On 9May1915 he received a shrapnel wound to the head at Lemnos and was cared for on the hospital ship 'Gloucester Castle'.
After recovering at Base Camp Zeitoun in Cairo he reported to Gallipoli for duty on 5Jun1915.
He received a serious GSW (gun shot wound) to the abdomen on 7Aug1915 and died the next day on the hospital ship 'Dunluce Castle'.
Jack was buried at sea the next day, and has a headstone -
Grave Reference - I. C. 40 at Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Anzac, about 450? yards SE of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli.
Friends Mary and Bernie Armstrong visited Jack's grave at Schrapnel Gully in 2009 - have photos.
Digitalised Army Record available on National Archives of Australia website - an additional 25 pages downloaded to add to pages obtained many years ago by descendant Glenda Pace nee Slattery.
Jack's brother C J Slattery Jnr was his next of kin so there is some correspondence re Jack being wounded addressed to C J.
There is also correspondence between the Army and Jack's father (also named Cornelius James) re his Victory Medal that was despatched via Registered Post and 'mislaid' -
Army provided C J Snr with receipt with his signature on it. C J's address was PO Peak Hill NSW.
Jack's personal effects sent home per 'Demosthenes' from Egypt comprised - Brush, Rosary, Purse, Bangle and Gift Box.
£52 per annum pension issued to Mrs Emily Slattery from 11Nov1915 - her address was c/- Mrs Gilbert (her mother), Arncliffe Rd, Arncliffe in Sydney.
It appears that Jack's parents, Emily and husband Cornelius James were living apart at this time.
According to Gil Slattery - nephew - A J McKeown has Jack's medals.
John's photo amongst 12 "Heroes of the Dardanelles" on page 5 of SMH dd 2Sep1915.
From NSW State Archives -
Number INX-46-944
SLATTERY John
Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour 1914-1919
Railways Permanent Way
Military Unit - 1st Field Company Engineers
Reference - Page No 18, Index Number 46.
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