Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John David Cattermole (1896-1958)

Surname: CATTERMOLE; Given name: John David; Date of Birth: March 1896; Date of enlistment: 9 October 1915; Occupation: Vigneron (wine maker/grower); Address prior to enlistment: Magill, Adelaide, South Australia; Next of kin: Mrs. Amelia Jane Cattermole, Bordertown, South Australia.

Son of Mr William James Cattermole and Mrs Amelia Jane Cattermole of Magill Adelaide. John David Cattermole was a single, young, 21-year-old wine maker who lived in Jeparit and enlisted for war in the year 1915. The Cattermole family was a family of 8 where John was the second eldest child. He had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. John Cattermole and his family were protestant. After the war he was injured on his journey back to Australia he then spent more time in hospital after his return and was identified as an invalid (disabled person).

John David Cattermole enlisted in Adelaide on the 9th October 1915 as a private and was given the regimental number A1841. He was placed in the 9th Light horse regiment, 13th reinforcement. He left Adelaide bound for Heliopolis, Egypt on the HMAT Borda A30 in 1917. John David Cattermole was 5 feet and 9 ¼ inches, chest of 34-36 inches and a weight of 154lbs (69kg). He had hazel eyes, light brown hair and a fair complexion. During this time his younger brother Frank James Cattermole enlisted for war when he turned 18. Frank James Cattermole was not as lucky as John and sadly died of disease sometime while he was fighting.

John David Cattermole spent many years training in Egypt, Alexandria and Marseilles and then in France. Along with other soldiers since the a30 Borda had already stopped in Melbourne some soldiers had already begun their training. Other soldiers like John Cattermole only begun their training when they arrived in Heliopolis. He departed from Adelaide on the 23rd of June 1917. He was posted on the field as part of the 54th battery on the 1/8/1917. He later returned back to training.

When John David Cattermole joined the war Germany had begun aerial bombing against Britain. Different places are starting to use poison gas for the first time. Germany declares war surrounding British Isles to be a war zone in which ships can be sunk without warning. John David Cattermole fought in France as part 14th field Artillery Brigade. However, on his return home he was injured somehow and taken to hospital on the 28th November 1918. He was later transferred and stayed in a different hospital for a period of two months. He was then shipped back to Australia and then stayed in hospital for another month.

As an ANZAC soldier (Australian New Zealand Army Corps) there were many desirable qualities. These qualities are of what Australian soldiers have shown and seen other forces display during their time in the war. The qualities of the Anzac spirit include endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour and mateship. Soldiers would show the ANZAC spirit by choosing to sign up for the war and for being able to endure the strict training rules and creating bonds with the people around them but occasionally seeing them fall. Their endurance to keep going despite having teammates fall shows the ANZAC spirit. The good humour and mateship that the Australian and New Zealand soldiers would have despite terrible circumstances shows that they are the good natured type of people.

John David Cattermole showed the ANZAC spirit when he decided to sign up for war. Although there are no personal records of how he felt I believe he would have been a hard working man as he was promoted many times showing he had the endurance to keep moving forward no matter what might have happened. He especially showed the ANZAC spirit when he was injured and constantly being shifted around before once again returning to the field before being sent back to Australia when the war ended only to be hospitalized for another month.

Medals won

John returned to Australia on the 10th of April 1919, he won the British war medal and the victory medal 19958. On return he was hospitalised for a few months after his return. He died in the year 1958 at the age of 62. He was buried at Batemans Bay Cemetery, New South Whales, Australia.

 Bibliography

Australian War Memorial 2016, Memorial Glossary, Australian Government, Canberra, accessed 25 March 2016, <https://www.awm.gov.au/glossary/>

9th Australian Light Horse Regiment Embarkation Roll, 13th Reinforcement Borda Group 2011, Australian light horse studies center, accessed 24 March 2016, <http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1992956/9th-australian-light-horse-regiment-embarkation-roll-13th-reinforcement-borda-group/>

Abbreviations used in World War I and World War II service records 2016, National Archives of Australia, accessed 23 March 2016, <http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/explore/defence/abbreviations.aspx>

Record search 2016, National Archives of Australia, accessed 23 March 2016, <http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx>

John David Cattermole 2016, First World War Embarkation Roll, accessed 22 March 2016, <https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R2037126/>

 School Resources 2016, Returned & Services League of Australia SA Branch, accessed 22 March 2016, <https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/education/school-resources>