WETZLAR, John Albert
| Service Number: | 3995 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 July 1915, Bendigo, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 23rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australia, April 1896 |
| Home Town: | Eaglehawk, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Eaglehawk State School No. 210, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Pneumonia following Influenza (after right leg amputation), Bath War Hospital, Somerset, England, 23 October 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Bath (Locksbrook) Cemetery Plot C, Row H, Grave 34, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Eaglehawk Presbyterian Sunday School Roll of Honour, Eaglehawk St Peter's Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Bendigo, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb 1916: | Involvement Private, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 Feb 1916: | Embarked Private, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Warilda, Melbourne | |
| 27 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières | |
| 22 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm, SW to right leg. Evacuated to UK. Rejoined unit 16 February 1917. | |
| 3 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second) | |
| 26 May 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 23rd Infantry Battalion, France | |
| 20 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Menin Road | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge | |
| 9 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Battle of Poelcapelle | |
| 10 Nov 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Belgium | |
| 4 Jan 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, Overseas Training Brigade, UK | |
| 7 May 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, 23rd Infantry Battalion, France | |
| 19 May 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918 | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, The Battle of Amiens | |
| 1 Sep 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Mont St Quentin / Peronne, GSW right leg (fractured). Evacuated to UK (War Hospital, Bath) where his right leg was amputated. He later developed pneumonia and died on 23 October 1918. | |
| 23 Oct 1918: | Involvement Corporal, SN 3995, 23rd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
Cpl 3995 John Albert Wetzlar was wounded in action 1 September 1918 at Mont St Quentin (GSW right leg, compound fracture). He was eventually evacuated to War Hospital, Bath on 13 September 1918, where his right leg was amputated.
He later developed pneumonia and died at War Hospital, Bath, UK on 23 October 1918.
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 23rd October…… John Albert Wetzlar was born at Eaglehawk, Victoria in 1896.
His mother – Annie Wetzlar died in July, 1903 at Eaglehawk, Victoria. Ernest George Wetzlar, father of John Albert Wetzlar, remarried in 1910 to Cath Agnes Purves.
John Albert Wetzlar enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 14th July, 1915 as a 19 year old, single, Clerk from Eaglehawk, Victoria.
On 8th February, 1916 Private Wetzlar, Service Number 3995, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Warilda (A69) with the 6th Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Battalion, 9th Reinforcements.
He embarked for Overseas from Alexandria on 21st March, 1916 on HMT Ouana & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 31st March, 1916. Private Wetzlar proceeded to join his Unit from 2nd Australian Divisional Base on 30th June, 1916 & was taken on strength of 23rd Battalion in France on 1st July, 1916.
Private John Albert Wetzlar was wounded in action at Pozieres on 22nd August, 1916. He was admitted to 4th Australian Field Ambulance on 22nd August, 1916 with shrapnel wound/s to right leg. Private Wetzlar was transferred & admitted to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station on 23rd August, 1916 then transferred to Ambulance Train on 24th August, 1916. He was admitted to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples, France on 24th August, 1916 with shrapnel wounds to right leg. He was transferred to Calais & embarked for England on Hospital Ship Dieppe on 7th September, 1916.
On 7th September, 1916 Private Wetzlar was admitted to 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester, England with shrapnel wound/s to right leg – severe. A Shrapnel ball was removed from front of right forearm under local anaesthetic on 8th September, 1916. Private Wetzlar was transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, England on 21st November, 1916. He was discharged to furlough on 27th November, 1916 & was then to report to Perham Downs.
He was marched in to Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire, England on 13th December, 1916 & was medically classified “A” (fit for active service). He was marched out to 6th Training Battalion at Rollestone, Wiltshire on 15th December, 1916.
Private Wetzlar was written up for an Offence at Larkhill, Wiltshire – A.W.L. (absent without leave) from 8.20 am on 30th December, 1916 to 8.30 pm on 30th December, 1916 & neglecting to obey standing orders - out of bounds without a pass. He was awarded 3 days confined to Camp & forfeited 3 days’ pay.
On 4th February, 1917 Private Wetzlar proceeded overseas to France . He was marched in to 2nd Divisional Base at Etaples, France on 4th February, 1917. Private Wetzlar was marched out to join his Unit in 8th February, 1917 & rejoined 23rd Battalion in France on 16th February, 1917.
He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 26th May, 1917. Lance Corporal Wetzlar was promoted to Corporal on 10th November, 1917.
Corporal John Albert Wetzlar was advised on 1st January, 1918 he was to be Permanent Staff with 6th Training Battalion in England. He was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire, England on 4th January, 1918 & was attached for duty with Permanent Cadre of Overseas Training Brigade “C” Company on the same day.
On 1st May, 1918 Corporal Wetzlar was transferred back to 23rd Battalion & proceeded overseas to France from Sandhill Camp, Longbridge Deverill. He was marched in to New Zealand Base Depot at Etaples, France on 2nd May, 1918 then marched out to his Unit on 4th May, 1918 & joined 23rd Battalion in France on 7th May, 1918.
Corporal John Albert Wetzlar was wounded in action in France on 1st September, 1918 (2nd occasion). He was admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance on 1st September, 1918 with G.S.W. (Gunshot wound/s) & compound fracture of Fibia. Corporal Wetzlar was transferred to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station on 1st September, 1918 with G.S.W right leg then transferred to No. 15 Ambulance Train on 2nd September, 1918. He was admitted to 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France on 2nd September, 1918 & invalided to England on a Hospital Ship on 12th September, 1918.
He was admitted to Bath War Hospital, Somerset, England on 13th September, 1918 suffering from G.S.W. (Gunshot wound/s) bullet to right leg, amputation. He contracted Influenza on 14th October, 1918.
Corporal John Albert Wetzlar died a 5.15 am on 23rd October, 1918 at Bath War Hospital, Somerset, England from Pneumonia following Influenza.
He was buried in Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath, Somerset, England where 6 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/bath.html
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