27632
RUSH, John Edward
| Service Number: | 1603 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 November 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Manchester, England, 21 September 1882 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Woodturner |
| Died: | Port Pirie Hospital, South Australia , 20 June 1966, aged 83 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Port Pirie General Cemetery, South Australia PRE, lot 32, grave 2 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Nov 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 1603, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 1915: | Involvement Private, 1603, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Clan McGillivray embarkation_ship_number: A46 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Feb 1915: | Embarked Private, 1603, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Clan McGillivray, Melbourne | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 1603, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 14 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 1603, 50th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
John Edward RUSH was born in Pattercroft, Manchester, England on 21.09.1882 to Philip (or Patrick John) RUSH.
John RUSH’s attestment papers states he served 3 years in the 5th Liverpool rifles and 2 years in the Cape Peninsula rifles which was a South African militia.
He joined the AIF on 23.11.1914 and was given service number 1603. He was initially attached to the 10th Infantry Battalion the on 16.02.16 in France was transferred to 50th Battalion.
The 50th Battalion was raised in Egypt on 26 February 1916 as part of the "doubling" of the AIF. Approximately half of its recruits were veterans from the 10th Battalion, and the other half, fresh reinforcements from Australia. Reflecting the composition of the 10th, the 50th was predominantly composed of men from South Australia. The battalion became part of the 13th Brigade of the 4th Australian Division and was dubbed "Hurcombe's Hungry Half Hundred", after its first CO, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Hurcombe. This was the name of the official history book written after the war by a member Mr. FREEMAN.
After arriving in France on 11 June 1916, the 50th fought in its first major battle at Mouquet Farm between 13 and 15 August and suffered heavily. It took part in another assault launched on 3 September. The battalion saw out the rest of the year alternating between front-line duty, training and labouring behind the line. This routine continued through the winter of 1916-'17.
Early in 1917, the battalion participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and attacked at Noreuil on 2 April. Later that year, the focus of AIF operations moved to the Ypres sector in Belgium. The battalion was involved in the battle of Messines between 7-12 June and the battle of Polygon Wood on 26 September. Another winter of trench routine and ongoing trench She was one of warfare followed.
Utilising troops freed by the collapse of Russia in October 1917, the German Army launched a major offensive on the Western Front at the end of March 1918. The 4th Division was deployed to defend positions south of the River Ancre in France. At Dernancourt, on 5 April, the 50th Battalion assisted in the repulse of the largest German attack mounted against Australian troops during the war. The German threat persisted through April, and on ANZAC Day 1918 the 50th participated in the now- legendary attack to dislodge the enemy from Villers-Bretonneux.
The 50th Battalion continued to play an active role during the Allies' own offensive, launched on 8 August 1918. Its last major operation of the war was the attack on the Hindenburg "outpost line" on 18 September, during which the 50th composed part of the 4th Division's reserve. The 50th Battalion ceased to exist as a separate entity when it amalgamated with the 51st Battalion on 6 March 1919.
Pte. RUSH returned to Australia and was discharged from the AIF on 14.04.1919.
John RUSH rejoined the army on 02.10.1939 for WW2 service, given service number S212406 and given the rank of Warrant Officer 2. He remained in the army until 1947. He was attached to the Garrison Battalion and it appears he may have been a cook in Adelaide and Alice Springs.