Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Parents: Patrick John KITSON and Caroline Carter Potts

Siblings:

Thomas Kitson  (b. 11/5/1891 Caltowie SA - d. ___)
Patrick Kitson  (b. 29/4/1893 Laura SA - d. ____)
Alexander Kitson  (b. 22/2/1895 Beetaloo SA - d. ____)
Henry Joseph Kitson (b. 14/4/1897 Laura SA - d. ____)

Wife:  

Florence Elanie Kitson  (b. ___ - d. 20/11/1943) buried in West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, SA - Catholic Western Ground Row No. A;  Site No.145

Children: Ismay, Kathleen, Elaine, Dorothy and John James Michael (Jack) Kitson (b. 17/6/1921 Adelaide SA - d. ___) living at 55 Carrington Street, Adelaide, South Australia

Described on enlisting as 36 years 10 months old; married; 5' 5 1/2" tall; 132 lbs; dark complexion; grey eyes; dark hair; Roman Catholic

31/5/1915      Enlisted at Keswick, South Australia

31/5/1915      Commanding Officer appointed John to G Group, Base Infantry Depot
                     Mitcham Camp

1/8/1915        transferred to 8th Field Ambulance

10/11/1915    Embarked from Port Melbourne on board  HMAT Ascanius A11
                     as a Corporal in 8th Infantry Brigade, 8th Field Ambulance B & C Sections

24/1/1916      tonsilitis, admitted to Feny Post

24/2/1916      transferred to 15th Field Ambulance, Tel-El-Kebir, Egypt

12/5/1916      taken on strength into 8th Field Ambulance, Feny Post

17/6/1916      proceeded overseas to join the British Expeditionary Forces,
                     ex Alexandria, on board Transylvania
28/6/1916      disembarked into Marseilles, France

11/9/1917      To UK on leave
25/9/1917      rejoined unit, France

24/4/1918      Gassed & Gun shot wound left arm - wounded in action, France
25/4/1918      admitted to hospital, France

28/4/1918      admitted with severe gas wounds, 1st Southern General Hospital,
                     Birmingham
15/5/1918      transferred to 3rd Australian Auxillary Hospital, Dartford
27/5/1918      discharged to No.3 Convalescent, Hurdcott

27/5/1918     attached to No.2 Casualty Clearing Hospital, Hurdcott,
                     for duty from 8th Field Ambulance

In hospital for 3 months.  Eyes badly affected, having night blindness, shortness of
breath on exertion and pain in back and neck.

13/4/1919      returned to Australia on board HMT Commonwealth
8/6/1919        disembarked into Australia

5/9/1919        dicharged from service in AIF

Medals:
1914-15 Star (8561); British War medal (8150); Victory medal (8087)

31/1/1930      John passed away in Prospect
buried in:       West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, SA
                     AIF Section, Light Oval
                     Row No.8N;  C/E/W: W;  Site No. 4.

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  15/5/2015.  Lest we forget.

"MR. J. KITSON DEAD. Soldier and Unionist.

Many returned soldiers and members of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes followed the funeral this afternoon of Mr. John James Kitson, who was a sergeant of the 8th Battalion Field Ambulance during the war. His remains were interred in the Australian Imperial Forces (Catholic) Cemetery, West terrace. Father Kelly conducted the burial, service. Mr. Kitson was a former president of the Hotel, Club, and Restaurant Employes' Union, and of the Timber Workers' Union. He was also a member of the Australian Labor Party and of the Tubercular Soldiers' Association. For many years Mr. Kitson has been associated with West Adelaide branch of the Buffaloes Lodge, of which he was primo at the time of his death.

Born 49 years ago at Caltowie, Mr. Kitson was a son of Mrs. B. A. Kitson, who lives at Port Pirie. He was educated at Caltowie and Laura, and later lived at Port Pirie and Broken Hill. At Port Pirie he was a butcher and barman, and at Broken Mill was employed by Globe Timber Mills for six years. Mr. Kitson was on active service for four years, enlisting as a private. He had worked in the foundry at islington Workshops for the past six years. For 16 years he had lived at Prospect. Mr. Kitson was keenly interested in politics. He recently stood for the position of councillor of Highbury Ward. Deceased has left a widow, Mrs. Florence Kitson, four daughters - Ismay, Kathleen, Elaine, and Dorothy - and a son, Jack." - from the Adelaide News 01 Feb 1930 (nla.gov.au)