Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of William ATHERTON and Ealy nee MOTLEY, Queen Street, Rockhampton, Qld.

SERGEANT J.M. ATHERTON RECEIVES COMMISSION

A cablgram published a few days ago stated that General Sir William Birdwood had received a request from the War Office for 200 Anzacs for service in the Royal Flying corps, and residents of Central Queensland, and particularly Rockhampton, will be pleased to hear that the honour of being selected for this special work has fallen to a Central Queenslander - Mr. J.M. Atherton, son of Mr. W Atherton, of Athertons Limited, Chemists, Rockhampton.  Mr. J.M. Atherton is a native of Rockhampton, and, at the time of the outbreak of the war, was an apprentice to Athertons Limited.  He had always taken a keen interest in military matters, and particularly in rifle shooting.  About 1900 he was appointed sub-lieutenant of C Company of the Senior Cadets, and he held that rank in August, 1914.  He was among the earliest to enlist, joining the expeditionary forces in September of that year as a private.  He took part in the landing of the Australians at Gallipoli on the 25th of April, 1915, and was one of the small number who came through that memorable day unscathed.  About the middle of May, however, he was shot in the right arm and neck and was sent to Malta.  When he had somewhat recovered from teh effects of his wounds, about September, 1915, he was appointed to the Ghiantuffieha camp with the rank of sergeant.  There he was associated with the records staff. Later he was sent to Egypt.  He underwent a further medical examination there and was declared unfit for acive service, though capable of light duties.  He was appointed to the pay office and remained there until the office staff was removed to London.  His many friends in Rockhampton and its vicinity, as well as those of his parents, will join in congratulating the young soldier on his appointment and in wishing him success in his new sphere of service.

May 1917 - A passenger by the mailboat which passed through Port Adelaide on Wednesday was Lieut. J.M. Atherton, of Rockhampton, Central Queensland, who has been forced to take six months' leave from the Royal Flying Corps, London.  He recently fell a distance of 6,000 ft from his machine, miraculously escaping with only the loss of a tooth and shock.  When war was declared he was one of the first boys to go into camp from Central Queensland, and left with the famous 9th Battalion as a private.  He landed on the seond boatload on the peninsula on the morning of April 25, and after seeing nearly all his mates killed he was himself wounded after six weeks' fighting. He was sent to hospital at Malta, where it was a first feard he would lose his arm, but when he recovered sufficiently he joined the headquarters staff, wehre he ramined until he was accepted by the royal Flying corps.  He passed all his examinations at Oxford and all others except his final test in the air, which was to secure for him "his wings" but after a quarter of an hour in the air a wing snapped, and his machine descended at a terrific rae, being smashed to atoms.  His one great regret is that he was compelled to take leave when he had such a brilliant future.  Lieut. Atherton was the guest of Major and Mrs. Pendlebury during his short stay in Adelaide.

1920 - Mr. W. Atherton, of Athertons Limited East street, yesterday received the very gratifying information that his son, Mr. J.M. Atherton, had passed his final examination in pharmacy.  Mr. J.M. Atherton served his apprenticeship with Athertons Limited.  On the outbreak of the war, when he had passed only his preliminary examination, he enlisted, but since his return from the front he has passed his intermediate examination, in July last, and his final examination last month.  This is an achievement of which he may well feel proud, and his many friends will join in heartily congratulating him on it and in wishing him a prosperous career.

1939 - Mr. J.M. Atherton, of the Public Health Department, Rabaul, with his wife and baby daughter Margaret, will arrive in Sydney in the Neptuna today to spend his three months' furlough here.  They have taken a flat at Bondi.  Mr. Atherton is a son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Atherton, of Pymble.

John was under transport from Rabaul on the prisoner ship Montevideo Maru, when that ship was torpedoed and sunk by the American submarine Sturgeon (SS-187) on 1st July 1942.