Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John was the son of Thomas HIXON & Mary Anne CROZIER and was born on the 27th of October 1883 in the Largs Pier Hotel, Largs Bay, SA.
He was baptised on the 23rd of April 1884 in St Paul’s Church, Pt Adelaide and was known as Jack.

His parents were married on the 16th of April 1878 in the Wesleyan Parsonage, Kent Town, SA.

His father was the son of Henry HIXON and was born in 1848 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
His mother was the daughter of John CROZIER and was born in 1857 in County Tyrone, Ireland.

John was the fourth child born into this family of 5 children.

In 1875 John’s father was in the catering department, of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, in London, when the late Dr. Tom Sawtell was studying there, and on Dr. Sawtell's recommendation, John’s father decided to immigrate to South Australia.

At the age of 28 he arrived in South Australia on board the North on the 9th of December 1875 as a caterer.
On board the ship he was appointed the officer in charge of the medical comforts during the voyage, for which the South Australian emigration authorities gave him a gratuity.

On arrival in Adelaide, John’s father was variously employed until he obtained a position in the Adelaide Hospital, where he met John’s mother, who was then a nurse in that hospital.
She had arrived in South Australia on the 24th of December 1875 on board the Lady Jocelyn as a 19 year old domestic servant, with her sister Hannah.

In 1878 John’s father was appointed manager of the Port Adelaide Club and later was manager of the Austral Club in Pirie Street.

In June 1882 his father took over the publican’s license of the Semaphore Hotel, Semaphore and then in December he took over the new and then recently built Largs Pier Hotel.
The following year John was born on the Largs Pier Hotel.

In June 1891 his father applied for a license to build the National Park Family Hotel, Government Road, Belair.
However, there was considerable opposition against his application and it was stated that it would cost £10,000 in building and a hotel was not required, so his application was refused.
John’s father stated that it would prove a boon in hot weather to the Adelaide citizens who wished a sojourn in the hills, but the application was still refused.

His father then took over the license of the Semaphore Hotel the following month.

John and his siblings attended the Semaphore Collegiate School and in March of 1899 his father retired and relinquished the license of the Hotel and the family moved to Water Street, Semaphore.

In June the following year the HIXON family moved back to England and lived at Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, Southampton.
His father started a catering business and once waited on the Duke of York (King George) at Parliament House.

In 1909 John gained an apprenticeship as a sailor with Mr James Beasley in Liverpool, England.

Then the HIXON family decided to move back to South Australia and arrived on board the Otranto on the 22nd of February 1913.
John’s father then purchased a home in Woolnough Road, Largs Bay and John gained employment as a sailor.

On the 27th of August 1914 John’s elder brother; Tom Marsh HIXON enlisted into the 1st AIF (654). He was posted to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column and embarked from Sydney on board the transport Argyllshire on the 18th of October 1914.

At the age of 32, John enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 1st of July 1915 in Keswick and allotted the service number 2571 and posted to the K Group, Base Infantry Depot, in Mitcham Camp.

He was then transferred to the 16th Battalion, 9th Reinforcements, before being transferred to the 3rd Field Company Engineers, 12th Reinforcement in Mitcham Camp and realloted the service number 5138.
He was then transferred to the 3rd Field Company Engineers, 13th Reinforcement and realloted the service number 5141.

John embarked from Sydney on board HMAT Berrima on the 17th of December 1915 and after spending Christmas 1915 on board the ship, he disembarked in Port Suez on the 23rd of January 1916 and marched into Tel-el-Kebir Camp.

For the next 4 weeks he trained here until the 20th of February when he was admitted into the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Heliopolis suffering from Febricula (mild fever).
Six days later he was reported as dangerously ill with Pneumonia and wasn’t reported as out of danger until the 11th of March.
On the 14th of March he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Cairo and diagnosed with Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

After 4 weeks here he was discharged and recommended for return to Australia, invalided.
John embarked from Port Suez, on the 12th of April 1916, on board HS Karoola, disembarked in Melbourne on Friday the 12th of May and entrained the following day to Adelaide.

As the train drew into the station the Mitcham Camp reinforcement’s band played patriotic selections, and hearty cheers were given and the guard of honour comprised the 18th reinforcements of the 10th Battalion.
There were many affecting reunions as the returned heroes took their seats in motor cars, and were driven slowly through the streets, which were gay with bunting and thick with crowds of people anxious to pay homage to the brave.
The men, including John, were driven to Keswick, where their family and friends were able to visit them in the afternoon.

John was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 30th of June 1916 and granted a War Pension of £3 per fortnight.

He was awarded the British War & Victory Medals.

John returned home to live with his parents at Woolnough Road, Largs Bay and gained employment as a seaman.

On the 9th of February 1928 John was admitted into the Adelaide Hospital.

John died in the Adelaide Hospital on the 14th of February 1928 and his parents buried him the following day in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section P, Drive C, Path 37, Site Number 204N.

HIXON -The Friends of the late Mr. JOHN WILLIAM (Jack) HIXON are respectfully informed that his Funeral (motor) will leave the residence of his Parents (Mr. and Mrs. T. Hixon), Woolnough Road, Largs Bay, on WEDNESDAY, at 2pm, for the Cheltenham Cemetery.
F. W. MOORE, Undertaker.

Military

At the age of 32, John enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 1st of July 1915 in Keswick and allotted the service number 2571 and posted to the K Group, Base Infantry Depot, in Mitcham Camp.
He listed his sister, Miss Mary Florence Hixon, of Woolnough Road, Largs Bay, as his next of kin.

He was then transferred to the 16th Battalion, 9th Reinforcements, before being transferred to the 3rd Field Company Engineers, 12th Reinforcement in Mitcham Camp and realloted the service number 5138.

He was then transferred to the 3rd Field Company Engineers, 13th Reinforcement and realloted the service number 5141.

John embarked from Sydney on board HMAT Berrima on the 17th of December 1915 and after spending Christmas 1915 on board the ship, he disembarked in Port Suez on the 23rd of January 1916 and marched into Tel-el-Kebir Camp.

For the next 4 weeks he trained here until the 20th of February when he was admitted into the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Heliopolis suffering from Febricula (mild fever).
Six days later he was reported as dangerously ill with Pneumonia and wasn’t reported as out of danger until the 11th of March.
On the 14th of March he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Cairo and diagnosed with Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

After 4 weeks here he was discharged and recommended for return to Australia, invalided.
John embarked from Port Suez, on the 12th of April 1916, on board HS Karoola, disembarked in Melbourne on the 12th of May and entrained the following day to Adelaide.

John was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 30th of June 1916 and granted a War Pension of £3 per fortnight.

He was awarded the British War & Victory Medals.