MCLOUGHLIN, John Peter
| Service Numbers: | 808, R808 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 26 June 1887 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Grocer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Victoria, Australia, 27 August 1959, aged 72 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Citizens Band Roll of Honor, Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor, Bendigo Hopetoun Brass Band Roll of Honor, Bendigo Marist Brothers College Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW neck & shoulder | |
| 6 Jul 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW to left ear (causing deafness). | |
| 7 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion, RTA 21 December 1915 (MU - deaf in left ear) on HMAT Runic. | |
| 11 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, R808, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, R808, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne | |
| 11 Sep 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 808, 2nd Training Battalion, Arrived England 26 October 1916 per HMAT Euripides. | |
| 24 Jan 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 2nd Training Battalion | |
| 26 Aug 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge | |
| 26 Dec 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion, Gassed in trenches near Ypres. | |
| 11 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion, The Battle of Amiens | |
| 20 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days" | |
| 2 Nov 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 808, 7th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Larna Malone
John Peter McLoughlin, known as ‘Scout’, was born in Bendigo, the son of John Henry & Bridget Ellen McLoughlin. His father was dead, and his mother lived at 205 Queen Street, Bendigo. He was a Grocer, employed by Mr. E. Harvey of Golden Square. Aged 27 years & 10 months, he had previous military service in 8th AIR & 67th Infantry. He was amongst the early volunteers for the Expeditionary Force, enlisting on 18.8.14. The following day he left Bendigo for the Broadmeadows Camp. He was allotted Service no. 808 and appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion. While at Broadmeadows he was Selected as 7th Battalion Scout.
The 7th Battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’. Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids. (6/12/14)
In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized. In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company. This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company.
The 7th Battalion was part of the force which landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915. ‘Scout’ McLoughlin was Wounded during the Landing, sustaining Bullet wounds to his neck and shoulder.
McLoughlin Letter: “I suppose you have read all about our fight, and you have something to be proud of. We have lost some of our comrades in the fight, but they died heroes. The experience here is great – advancing after the enemy with hundreds of bullets flying over your head, also shrapnel from the big guns. After a little while under this you forget all about it, and you do not take any notice of the danger you are running into. I will be content to return home after another battle or two. I will have had enough experience then. I think it will be a big struggle before this war is finished.” [Bendigo Advertiser June 10, 1915]
He rejoined the battalion on 13/6/15.
On 3rd July the battalion moved into the trenches at Steele’s Post. The downward slope behind Steele’s Post was directly overlooked by the Turks, who were in position on the higher ground. Turkish riflemen made this area particularly unsafe. They were also fired upon by the Enemy Howitzer. Most days were spent repairing the trenches and continually sniping at the Enemy’s loopholes. The trenches were also repaired during the night.
John Peter McLoughlin reported Sick on 6/7/15. He was Diagnosed with ‘Deafness’, attributed to a Gunshot wound below his left ear. He RTA M.U. on 21/12/15.
He Returned to duty on 18/8/16, and was appointed to 20th rfts, 7th Battalion. He Embarked on 11/9/16 and joined the 2nd Training Battalion in England (30/10/16).
On 20/8/17 he embarked for France, and rejoined the 7th Battalion. He was Wounded i.e. Gassed, on 26/12/17, and rejoined the battalion on 11/8/18. He RTA on 12/5/19.
“The First Lot. 7th Battalion. The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone
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