Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: John Henry Moyle
Service Number: 1160 11805
Place of Birth: Kent Town
Date of Birth: 2 November 1880
Place of Enlistment: Morphettville
Date of Enlistment: 14 September 1914
Age at Embarkation: 33 years 10 months
Marital status: Single
Next of Kin: Father – Stephen Moyle
Occupation: Cook, Hilton Bakery
Religion: Church of England
Rank: Private 10th Battalion
West Adelaide Football Club involvement: Player number 91, John played 14 games between 1900 and 1902. He debuted on 30 June 1900.
Biographical details: John went with the 10th Battalion to Alexandria, where on 2 March 1915 he was hospitalised with gonorrhoea until 25 March. On 4 June he sustained a bullet wound to the right leg during action at Gallipoli and was admitted to Floriana Military Hospital at Malta for treatment. John embarked Oxfordshire on 29 August from Malta bound for England for further treatment. His father was notified of John’s wounding by Army Base Records, Melbourne on 22 September. He was returned to Australia on HMAT A32 Themistocles on 8 May 1916 suffering from eczema and shell shock for which he was discharged as medically unfit. John was granted a pension of 3 pounds per fortnight as of 16 August 1916. The medical report that led to his 1916 discharge stated, “Invalided with gsw (gunshot wound) right leg which became septic. Was knocked over by a high explosive shell which one of our batteries dropped short into his dugout. Wounds healed in October. Developed dysentery at Malta. Eczema developed in October.”
John later re-enlisted at the age of 37, this time giving his next of kin as a friend, Davis McMinnie and his occupation as that of Tobacco worker / professional athlete.
John’s second term of service was short-lived due to alcoholism. A medical report of June1916 stated, “Complained of inability to drill on account of old GSW. Frequent overindulgence in alcohol”. Another medical report concluded,“ this man is now suffering from the effects of liquor. All his symptoms are due to drink. Discharge medically unfit. There is no incapacity from wound in right thigh.” His medical report of 29 May 1917 stated he suffered from “chronic alcoholism.” As a result, John was discharged on 15 May 1918 being “unsuited for the duties of the Corps due to drunkenness and absent without leave.”
John Moyle died on 1 February 1933 and was buried at the AIF Cemetery, West Terrace, Adelaide.
SOURCE: NAA;B2455; Moyle J H; Barcode 7985401.