DIBBEN, John Allan
| Service Number: | 2912 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 February 1916, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wiltshire, England, October 1890 |
| Home Town: | Pinnaroo, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Salisbury School, Wiltshire |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 1 November 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers Grave is made of grey stone, name is painted on., Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Pinnaroo Soldiers Memorial Hosptial |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2912, 32nd Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 2912, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 2912, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide High School
World War I
John Allan Dibben was a private who was born in England in 1890, his trade/calling had been stated as a farmer.
He joined the war when he was 25 4/12 years old, he was 5’8 ½ inches tall and weighed 59 kg. His chest measurement was 33-36 inches, his complexion was fresh, and his eyes were hazel. His hair was light brown.
John Allan was single, and he proceeded to join the 32nd battalion in Etaples on 29/7/16. He was later taken on strength to France on 2/8/16. He was taken due to a septic wound 7/10/16 and re-joined on the same day. Unfortunately, he was killed in action on the 1/11/16.
Shortly after he died, MS. Dibben inquired about his personal belongings stating that that she would like to know where and how her son was buried and how she could get in touch with her son’s belongings. A letter from an Honorary Secretory replied to her letter explaining how they were trying to obtain all enquired information. The Honorary secretory also stated that in order to access John’s belongings, she should write an application at “The office in charge, Base records, Middleboro Barracks, Melbourne. A letter from London on 12.6.17 was sent to Ms Dibben’s, this letter stated “He was getting water out of the shell hole when his rifle went off and killed him at once. He was buried near Flers. He was my pal and that is what I found out about him.”
Ms Dibben’s also got another letter from an honorary secretory stating that no fuller information could be found about his grave except that it was in Flers. Ms Dibben’s didn’t receive any more letters until 3rd of July 1919. This letter was sent by the Australian Camp. The letter said the following; “We were being relieved at Flers front where we had been holding the line, and our party lost its way. Dibben was overcome with fatigue and fell back, and he was found dead in a shell hole by another party returning. I saw Dibben’s grave near Needle Trenches, just off the duckboards. There is a cross marked over it, bearing his name, number and there are about 20 to 30 other men buried near. I could point out the place. I know nothing further.” Ms Dibben’s then replied saying she was greatly comforted by the fact that his son’s grave was known, and his death was instantaneous.
John Allan Dibben also received a participation medal for his bravery in the war.