PENGELLEY, John Young
| Service Number: | 2152 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 March 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Crystal Brook, South Australia, 19 December 1890 |
| Home Town: | Yabmana, Franklin Harbour, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Crystal Brook Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 1 August 1915, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cowell Men from Franklin Harbour WW1 Roll of Honour, Cowell Remembrance Park, Cowell War Memorial, Kimba Men Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing, The South Australian National War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2152, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2152, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2152, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 1 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2152, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), ANZAC / Gallipoli |
Help us honour John Young Pengelley's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cowell RSL
At the time of enlistment John Pengelley was a farm labourer, 24 years old, with brown hair and of medium build.
John Pengelley joined the 16th Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinforcements in March 1915. After a short time in Egypt he was transported to Gallipoli in July 1915. At that time the 16th Battalion was involved in creating and defending the front line of the ANZAC beachhead.
Late in 1915 Pengelley’s mother and sister became alarmed when they stopped receiving letters from him. The family contacted Base Records and the Red Cross, asking about their son and brother. In March, the following year the Red Cross replied that Private Pengelley was last heard of unofficially as being sick and in England. Months later and with no further news, a friend, Mr FA Beinke (of Narridy Creek) also helped write letters enquiring of Private Pengelley. The AIF informed the family in May 1916 that Private Pengelley was at Gallipoli during August 1915 but there were no other details of his whereabouts.
While serving in France, family friend Private RW Robertson of the 27th Battalion demonstrated the close bonds between enlisted men from the West Coast when he wrote to authorities:
‘In the trenches – France
Friday May 12th 1916
Sir
Would you kindly write to me and let me know of any particulars concerning a young chap that came away with the 6th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion. I know his people well and they have been unable to get any news of him whatever and as I am unable to visit the 16th I thought I would write to you …..’
In July 1917 the Pengelley family was informed from the AIF that
“thorough inquiries were made, no information was found. Presumed alive unsure where”.
With three boys on the Western Front (the youngest being 18 years old) the family stated they were looking on the positive side that at least John Pengelley hadn’t been reported as dead. They continued to write to many agencies seeking further information. Finally in September 1917, a court of inquiry at Rouen, France found that Private John Young Pengelley was Killed In Action on the Gallipoli Peninsula during August 1915.
Pengelley’s younger brother, Sidney returned to Australia after serving on the Western Front where he contracted tuberculosis; while his older brother, Arthur, was taken Prisoner of War and held in Germany. The Pengelleys demonstrated great persistence while sending letters back and forth for years enquiring after their son. John Young Pengelley was obviously a much loved and greatly missed member of their family.
Reference List
World War 1 Biographies (Folder, located at Cowell RSL) Stocker, B.
National Archives of Australia – NameSearch
Red Cross files WW1
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Address at the time of enlistment was Meningie, SA
Son of John Pengelley and Emily Mary Pengelley nee Young of Meningie S.A. formerly of Crystal Brook and Kadina, S.A.. Brother of Dorothy Emma Pengelley, Edith Maud Pengelley, Ruby Stella Emilie Pengelley, Marjorie Pengelley, Arthur Knight Pengelley and Sidney Claude Pengelley
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
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