Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John William Gardiner. 1894-1916

Life of John William Gardiner

John William Gardiner was born in July 1894, the third child of John Gardiner and Martha Hannah (nee Turner). He was educated at the Penrith State Public School. In 1913, John married Alice Constance Harvey and there were three children from this union. At the time of his marriage, Gardiner was employed as a carter and on enlistment in 1915, he was employed as a sawmill sawyer. In 1920 John's widow Alice, married Kenneth Byrnes, who raised John's children as his own. John's younger brother, Albert George Gardiner, died of wounds in France on 10 April 1917.

Service details

John enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at Victoria Barracks on 26 September 1915 and was assigned to the 12th reinforcements, 3rd Battalion. His battalion sailed for the war zone on 30 December 1915 aboard A7 HMAT Medic bound for Alexandria. His battalion was then sent to the Western Front to join the British Expeditionary Force. The unit sailed for France aboard the troopship Transylvania and arrived in Marseilles on 4 April 1916. After being hospitalised in Havre, he was taken on the 3rd Battalion's strength on 3 August 1916. Gardiner's time at the front was short lived. He was wounded on 16 August 1916 and admitted to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station with "gunshot wounds to the upper extremities". He died on 22 August 1916.

Memorial Details

Gardiner's name is commemorated on Memorial Panel 36, 74 Puchivilliers British Cemetery France, Penrith Roll of Honor in Memory Park and the Honor Roll, Victoria Park St Mary’s.

Nepean Times 14 October 1916, p3

Another Hero Falls in Battle

To the already long and ever-increasing list of casualties to Penrith soldiers chronicled in the press, we had, too perforce, to add recently the name of Private John W Gardiner, who was mortally wounded in severe fighting on the Somme Front, in August, and who died at the base hospital on 22nd August. News was received by Mrs. Gardiner (wife of deceased), who resides in North Street, Penrith, of his having been severely wounded, and, subsequently, came the sad message from the military authorities (conveyed by Rev W R Bowers, of St Mary’s) apprising his wife of the death of the late soldier, and expressing the sympathy of their Majesties the King and Queen, and of the Commonwealth Government, to the bereaved home-circle. We understand Mrs. Gardiner is in receipt of a letter from Captain-Chaplain A H Broughton, who is with the forces, informing the Private Gardiner was wounded in both legs, and in the left arm, while gallantly charging the enemy with his brothers-in-arms. The late Private J W Gardiner (who was a son of Mr and Mrs. Gardiner, Union Lane, Penrith) enlisted on 11 October 1915, and sailed in his batch of reinforcements (the 12th series) of 3rd Batt., AIF, on 7th January last. He had been an employee of Mr Giles, wood and coal proprietor, Penrith, and had been married some four years, Mrs. Gardiner's maiden name being Miss Alice Harvey. The deceased soldier was in his 22nd year, and was of a robust and athletic physique. He leaves three young children, the youngest being an infant in arms and the circumstances are obviously such as call for the charitable consideration of the community, and as directly from the State, in whose service the late gallant soldier made the sacrifice of his life and interests.

John William GARDINER

Regimental number 4028ReligionChurch of EnglandOccupationSawyerAddressNorth Street, Penrith, New South WalesMarital statusMarriedAge at embarkation21Next of kinWife, Mrs. A.C. Gardiner, c/o J. Harvey, Werrington, via St. Mary’s, New South WalesEnlistment date26 September 1915Rank on enlistmentPrivateUnit name3rd Battalion, 12th ReinforcementAWM Embarkation Roll number23/20/2Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 30 December 1915Rank from Nominal RollPrivateUnit from Nominal Roll3rd BattalionFateEffective abroad (still overseas) Age at death from cemetery records22Place of burialPuchevillers British Cemetery (Plot II, Row F, Grave No. 9), FrancePanel number, Roll of Honour,
Australian War Memorial36Miscellaneous information from
cemetery recordsParents: John and Martha GARDINER; husband of Alice GARDINER, Werrington, New South Wales. Native of Penrith, New South Wales.

In Memory of
Private JOHN WILLIAM GARDINER

4028, 3rd Bn., Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
who died age 22
on 22 August 1916
Son of John and Martha Gardiner; husband of Alice C. Gardiner, of Werrington, New South Wales. Native of Penrith, New South Wales.
Remembered with honour
PUCHEVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY

Joanne Luff 08 Apr 2010.