FEARISH, John Thomas
| Service Number: | 3580 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 November 1916, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Wattle Flat, New South Wales , 20 May 1882 |
| Home Town: | Surry Hills, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Surry Hills Marist Brothers School |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 20 October 1917, aged 35 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Originally buried near the Soda Water Factory at Zonnebeke , Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Nov 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3580, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3580, 1st Pioneer Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Jan 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3580, 1st Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney | |
| 11 Jul 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), 12th Training Battalion, Codford. | |
| 20 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3580, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3580 awm_unit: 45 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-10-20 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
John's family name, Fearish, was quite uncommon. Research reveals a turbulent adolescence, a number of brushes with the law, a stint of hard labour and a tendency to settle things with his fists. In 1905, a disagreement over "the merits of various pugilists", resulted in John receiving two stab wounds to his face. The scars of which, still showed a decade later and were recorded during his enlistment medical at the Victoria Barracks in Sydney, on the 27th November 1916.
Proceeding to the Sydney Showground Camp, John swore his oath and two days later, was officially assigned to the 9th Reinforcements of the 1st Pioneer Battalion. Leaving Sydney in January 1917, John marched into the Pioneer Training Battalion in England towards the end of March. Four weeks later, he was admitted to hospital suffering from broncho-pneumonia. John took 34 days to recover from this illness, at which time he was transferred to the 12th Training Battalion and in turn, to the 45th Infantry Battalion.
The regimented army life appears to have suited John, as no disciplinary entries are recorded. Proceeding overseas in late September, John completed his final training at the 4th A.D.B.D. before marching out to his unit. Taken on strength in the field on the 7th October 1917, John was in the thick of things immediately, as the 45th Infantry Battalion took part in the 12th October battle near Passchendaele.
During a quite spell on the 20th October 1917, John was asleep in his dugout when a 5.9 inch German shell hit, covering him and the three other members of his machine gun crew, with mud and debris. Soldiers nearby dug them out. John was unconscious and the most severely wounded, with compound fractures to both legs and arms, plus wounds to his groin and face. During the journey to the dressing station, John regained consciousness however never spoke. He reportedly died quietly between three and four that afternoon. John had been with the 45th Battalion for only two weeks.
Private John Thomas Fearish was buried near the Soda Water Factory at Zonnebeke. Like so many others, his grave would be lost during the pursuing battles.
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