SUMMERSON, John Shepherd
| Service Number: | 4252 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 October 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Penrith, New South Wales, Australia, 1896 |
| Home Town: | Hillgrove, Armidale Dumaresq, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Helensburgh Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 29 September 1966, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales |
| Memorials: | Armidale Memorial Fountain |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4252, 19th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 4252, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 4252, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orsova, Sydney | |
| 12 Nov 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4252, 19th Infantry Battalion, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17, GSW right side | |
| 13 Feb 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 19th Infantry Battalion | |
| 15 Apr 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, Noreuil | |
| 3 May 1917: | Honoured Military Medal and bar, Bullecourt (Second) | |
| 4 May 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 19th Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 4252, 19th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge | |
| 18 May 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 4252, 19th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
John Shepherd Summerson was the son of John Thompson and Ada Clara Summerson, of Helensburgh, New South Wales.
He was known as ‘Brum’ to his family and friends. He lived with his parents at Hillgrove, New South Wales and enlisted at 18 years of age.
His older brother, 1610 Pte. James Clifton Summerson 20th Battalion AIF, was killed in action not long after the Australians first went to the Western Front, on 5 May 1916, age 22.
John returned to Australia in mid-1918 as a Sergeant, twice decorated for conspicuous acts of gallantry and twice wounded, still not yet 21 years of age.
He was awarded the M.M. in April 1917 and won a Bar to the award only weeks later.
His recommendations state,
'For conspicuous gallantry during an enemy attack on the 15th April against Noreuil. Corporal Summerson had charge of four Company guns. Owing to an enemy attempt to envelop our flank which was held by this Company threatening to assume serious proportions this N.C.O. showed great coolness and initiative in at once moving his guns to a position on the threatened flank, and thus saved a critical situation. He after moving his guns proceeded to carry up S.A.A. under a very heavy enemy Machine Gun and rifle fire, regardless of personal safety. His attitude throughout the attack was a magnificent example of coolness and courage.'
‘For conspicuous gallantry during an attack on the Hindenberg Line on 3 May 1917, near Noreuil. Owing to heavy counter attacks during the morning of 3 May our troops were forced to retire back to a sunken road in one section of the line. It was discovered that the Battalion was very short of Lewis Guns owing to casualties and shell fire. Corporal Summerson knowing the position of two Lewis Guns in the vicinity of O.G.1 went by himself across a wide expanse of No Mans Land under heavy shell fire, machine gun and enemy sniping fire. He found the guns and made two trips to bring them in. Later in the day, Corporal Summerson used one of these guns with great effect on the enemy, firing some 2,000 rounds out of it. His coolness and courage were a great example to all who saw him.’
John was wounded in November 1916 and most severely wounded in Belgium on 4 October 1917 during the Battle of Broodseinde in Belgium. Evacuated to England he returned to Australia during January 1918 with multiple shrapnel wounds to his thigh and back.
John married in 1919 and raised four sons, passing away at 70 years age during 1966.