GELLERT, John Robert Christian
| Service Number: | 8857 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Semaphore South Australia, 16 December 1894 |
| Home Town: | Gilberton, Walkerville, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Draughstman |
| Died: | not known, 29 December 1928, aged 34 years, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Exeter Semaphore Uniting Church (fmly Wesleyan) Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Sep 1915: | Enlisted | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Nov 1915: | Involvement Driver, 8857, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Macquarie embarkation_ship_number: A39 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Nov 1915: | Embarked Driver, 8857, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, HMAT Port Macquarie, Melbourne | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Driver, 8857 |
Help us honour John Robert Christian Gellert's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
John Robert GELLERT
John was born in Semaphore, South Australia on the 16 December 1894, and died on the 29 December 1928, aged 34 years. He had blue eyes and brown hair, he was 5ft 2 and a half inches when he enlisted. He went to school at Methodist school and his address was 14 Edwin Terrace, Gilbert Town, South Australia. He identified as Methodist. Throughout his life, he was a single man and went into the army when he was 20 years old. He was enlisted on 14th September 1915. John served Egypt, France, and Belgium. Accidentally wounded at Bullecourt, France. John’s hometown was Gilberton, Walkerville, South Australia.
Before the war:
John’s parents consented for him to enlist in the Imperial Force because he was under 21. He embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A39 Port Macquarie on 16 November 1915.
During the war:
The Battalion's first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme Valley in July 1916, where the AIF Divisions engaged (1st 2nd and 4th) formed the right flank of the British front and during this time over 5000 soldiers died with 23000 casualties throughout the battle. On May 20, 1916, John was taken on strength to the 4th Brigade but was later admitted to the 5th ambulance from France on April 22, 1916. He was then discharged from his unit on April 2, 1916, due to some sort of injury, and was re-admitted to the army from the hospital on May 19, 1916. On March 11, 1916, John was taken on strength from the 2nd Infantry, and posted to the 104th Battery - a group of soldiers. He was then hospitalized for unknown reasons and re-joined his unit from the hospital on April 29, 1916. Later that year, on an unspecified date, he was transferred to the 11th Battalion. Unfortunately, he was admitted to the hospital again on May 5, 1917, this time for trench fever. Between June 2, 1917, and June 18, 1917, John was in and out of the hospital with sickness and trench fever. Despite these setbacks, on November 25, 1917, John marched in from the preserve brigade HEYTESBURY. However, he was soon after admitted to the hospital again in Dover on December 6, 1917. John then embarked for England from Western Australia on June 17, 1917. He was granted furlough from July 3, 1917, to July 14, 1917, and was then reposted to Godford. He was eventually discharged due to being medically unfit and returned to Australia on February 20, 1918. Despite the challenges he faced during his service, John's dedication and service to his country will always be remembered with gratitude and respect.
After the war:
John was a courageous serviceman who was honoured with three distinguished medals following his service in World War I. Among these, the 1914-15 Star stands out as it was authorized in 1918 and awarded for service in specific theatres of war between August 5, 1914, and December 31, 1915. The Silver War Badge was another notable honour that John received, which was given to most discharged servicemen and women of the First World War, regardless of their service location. Additionally, the Victory Medal, which was awarded to those who entered the war between August 5, 1914, and November 11, 1918, was a testament to John's remarkable service during the war. Despite these three honours being common among men who survived the war, John's bravery and dedication to his duty were unquestionable. Unfortunately, John passed away on December 29, 1928, at the young age of 34, and his death went undiscovered and unknown. Nonetheless, his outstanding service to his country and the sacrifices he made for his fellow countrymen will always be remembered with gratitude and respect.
Bibliography
https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/355
https://www.naa.gov.au/
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339156
https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/cultural-collections/medals/collection/first-world-war-campaign-medals/#:~:text=An%20individual%20generally%20received%20a,War%20Medal%20and%20Victory%20Medal.
Biography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
John Robert GELLERT
John was born in Semaphore, South Australia on the 16 December 1894, and died on the 29 December 1928, aged 34 years. He had blue eyes and brown hair, he was 5ft 2 and a half inches when he enlisted. He went to school at Methodist school and his address was 14 Edwin Terrace, Gilbert Town, South Australia. He identified as Methodist. Throughout his life, he was a single man and went into the army when he was 20 years old. He was enlisted on 14th September 1915. John served Egypt, France, and Belgium. Accidentally wounded at Bullecourt, France. John’s hometown was Gilberton, Walkerville, South Australia.
Before the war:
John’s parents consented for him to enlist in the Imperial Force because he was under 21. He embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A39 Port Macquarie on 16 November 1915.
During the war:
The Battalion's first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme Valley in July 1916, where the AIF Divisions engaged (1st 2nd and 4th) formed the right flank of the British front and during this time over 5000 soldiers died with 23000 casualties throughout the battle. On May 20, 1916, John was taken on strength to the 4th Brigade but was later admitted to the 5th ambulance from France on April 22, 1916. He was then discharged from his unit on April 2, 1916, due to some sort of injury, and was re-admitted to the army from the hospital on May 19, 1916. On March 11, 1916, John was taken on strength from the 2nd Infantry, and posted to the 104th Battery - a group of soldiers. He was then hospitalized for unknown reasons and re-joined his unit from the hospital on April 29, 1916. Later that year, on an unspecified date, he was transferred to the 11th Battalion. Unfortunately, he was admitted to the hospital again on May 5, 1917, this time for trench fever. Between June 2, 1917, and June 18, 1917, John was in and out of the hospital with sickness and trench fever. Despite these setbacks, on November 25, 1917, John marched in from the preserve brigade HEYTESBURY. However, he was soon after admitted to the hospital again in Dover on December 6, 1917. John then embarked for England from Western Australia on June 17, 1917. He was granted furlough from July 3, 1917, to July 14, 1917, and was then reposted to Godford. He was eventually discharged due to being medically unfit and returned to Australia on February 20, 1918. Despite the challenges he faced during his service, John's dedication and service to his country will always be remembered with gratitude and respect.
After the war:
John was a courageous serviceman who was honoured with three distinguished medals following his service in World War I. Among these, the 1914-15 Star stands out as it was authorized in 1918 and awarded for service in specific theatres of war between August 5, 1914, and December 31, 1915. The Silver War Badge was another notable honour that John received, which was given to most discharged servicemen and women of the First World War, regardless of their service location. Additionally, the Victory Medal, which was awarded to those who entered the war between August 5, 1914, and November 11, 1918, was a testament to John's remarkable service during the war. Despite these three honours being common among men who survived the war, John's bravery and dedication to his duty were unquestionable. Unfortunately, John passed away on December 29, 1928, at the young age of 34, and his death went undiscovered and unknown. Nonetheless, his outstanding service to his country and the sacrifices he made for his fellow countrymen will always be remembered with gratitude and respect.
Bibliography
https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/355
https://www.naa.gov.au/
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339156
https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/cultural-collections/medals/collection/first-world-war-campaign-medals/#:~:text=An%20individual%20generally%20received%20a,War%20Medal%20and%20Victory%20Medal.
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