9938
TOWES, John
| Service Number: | 1830 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wokingham, Birkshire, England, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Baker |
| Died: | Circumstances of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: KO, Road: 11, Site No: 21 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Apr 1915: | Involvement Private, 1830, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1915: | Embarked Private, 1830, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Lincoln, Adelaide |
Help us honour John Towes's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
John Towes was born in 1876 in Wokingham, England. He migrated from England to Adelaide and worked as a Baker. He was married to Elizabeth Towes, and they lived in West Adelaide on Roebuck Street. On the 23rd of December 1914, he enlisted at Oaklands, SA. Upon signing up, he was 5 foot 7, had brown hair and grey eyes. John was enlisted in the 10th Battalion and soon began training with the other soldiers at the Morphettville racecourse.
On the 1st of April 1915, Towes embarked from Port Lincoln
On the 15th of August 1915, Towes had a reported wound in action at Anzac Cove, and two days later it was reported as a bomb wound and an eye wound. On the 17th of August he embarked on the Georgian ship to sail to Malta’s hospital to receive treatment On the 27th of August, when Towes arrived at the hospital, he was diagnosed with conjunctivitis due to specks in his right eye and was treated for his minor bomb wound. He stayed in the hospital for close to half a month until he was fit again. On the 10th of September 1915, Towes was transferred to Ghajn Tuffieha, which is a bay in Malta. He was then moved to Alexandria for further training. Towes was promoted to Lance Corporal 14th February 1916 and then Corporal 1st March 1916.
The battalion was moved to the Western Front as part of the Allied effort arrving 3rd April 1916. The soldiers took part in the battle of Pozieres. On the 1st of August, Towes was promoted to Temporary Sergeant.
On the 22nd of August, Towes sent to hospital with Shell Shock and reverted to Corporal on evacuating the battalion due to his condition. He rejoined the unit after leaving the hospital on the 3rd of September. The 23rd of November marks Towes last day fighting on the Western Front due to a wound to his face. Three days later, he was admitted into the hospital, Duchess of Connaught, and had his wound assessed. Nearly a year later, on the 25th of August 1917, Towes was discharged from the hospital and returned to Australia.
Towes was discharged from the military service on the 8th of November 1917
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