HYNES, John Thomas
| Service Number: | 154 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 September 1914, Townsville |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 15th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Herberton, Queensland, Australia, 11 March 1883 |
| Home Town: | Charters Towers, Charters Towers, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Natural causes, Randwick Military Hospital, New South Wales, Australia, 16 September 1928, aged 45 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria, New South Wales, Australia M1 Sect 3, LOT10, Plot 15. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 154, 15th Infantry Battalion, Townsville | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 154, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 154, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1916: | Honoured Military Medal, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli, For gallantry and courage on the morning of 8 August 1915 during the attack and retirement at Abdel Rahman Bair, Gallipoli in bringing in wounded, including, on his back, his Company Serrgeant Major who was mortally wounded. | |
| 2 Apr 1919: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, "The Last Hundred Days", For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Jeancourt on 18 September 1918. Leading his company with great skill and courage, his advance was so swift that the enemy was quickly overpowered with 150 prisoners captured, two field guns and numerous machine guns taken. Leading a few men to the left of Priel Crater where stiff opposition was encountered, he dealt with it, preventing a delay in the advance. He then marked out the line of consolidation under heavy machine gun fire, organising and supervising his company for defence of the position. | |
| 11 Jul 1919: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 24 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 15th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
FINE SOLDIER PASSESS - Captain Jack Hynes D.S.O., M.M., S.C.: Deep regret was felt in Cairns at the announcement of the death of Captain John Thomas Hynes, which occurred at Randwick Military Hospital, Sydney on the evening of Sunday 16 September 1928.
Captain Hynes enlisted at Townsville in 1914 at the outbreak of war as a private in thc gallant 15th Bat-talion, which contained many men from Charters Towers. He took part in the memorable landing al Gallipoli, where his bravery and endurance enabled him to render invaluable aid as a stretcher bearer, as many a 15th Battalion man can testify. It was there that Private Hynes went out again and again under intense fire to bring in his fallen comrades; many of
the 15th said Jack Hynes bore a charmed life in those engagements.
Month after month he kept at it until a fragment of shell struck him on the back and being serious he was sent to England. A fortnight later he was sent to France but it would take a volume to detail his doings in that stricken country. He received personal congratulations from Major General Holmes for bravery and good leadership during an attack on Feb-ruary 1 and 2, 1917 at Stormy Trench, Gueudecourt; and from General Birdwood for his bravery.
BRAVERY IN BATTLE
The "London Gazette'' describes his exploit in gaining the D.S.O., as follows: "During the operations near
Jeancourt, north-west of St. Quentin, on September 18. 1918, Lieutenant John Hynes, M.M., 15th Battalion, led his company with great skill and courage in the attack, gaining his objective at little cost. He captured about 150 prisoners, two field guns, and numerous machine guns. He did fine work."
On March 16, 1919, he was mentioned in a despatch from Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig for gallant and
distinguished services.
lt was as Corporal Hynes that he won the Military Medal on Gallipoli and as Sergeant-Major Hynes that he was awarded by the King of Serbia the Cross of Karageorge.
KEEN SPORT
Captain Hynes was also a vigorous exponent of Rugby, and was a member of the North Queensland team in
1908, which had an unbeaten record in Brisbane.
Death was caused by the after-effects of gas poisoning incurred in France. Deceased, who was born at Herberton, spent a great part of his life in Cairns and Charters Towers. He claimed Charters Towers as his home town, and when the Great War broke out, went from there to Townsville to enlist.
He was a son of the late Mr. Michael Hynes and of Mrs. A. Hynes, now residing at Silkwood, and a brother of Mrs. T. J. McGrath, Cairns, and of Mr. P. Hynes, Cairns.
Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40638617
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