S15653 Returned
WEATHERILL, Joseph Cook
| Service Numbers: | 456, S213585 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 August 1914, Morphettville, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 1 POW Guard Company |
| Born: | Moonta, South Australia, 26 February 1889 |
| Home Town: | Port Adelaide, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | N/A |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Natural causes, Thebarton, South Australia, 28 May 1973, aged 84 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia RSL Wall 105, B001 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Commissioner of Public Works Roll of Honour, Adelaide Public Stores Department WW1 Roll of Honour, Mallala District of Grace WW1 Roll of Honor, Moonta Corporation of The Town of Moonta Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 456, Morphettville, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 456, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 456, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 456, 10th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, ANZAC / Gallipoli, "During operations near Gaba Tepe for exceptionally good work in scouting and in an attack resulting in the capture of the enemy's guns" | |
| 23 Mar 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, 456, 50th Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 26 Jun 1940: | Involvement Lieutenant, S213585 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Strathalbyn, SA | |
| 26 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Lieutenant, S213585, Strathalbyn, South Australia | |
| 26 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, S213585 | |
| 19 Nov 1943: | Discharged | |
| 19 Nov 1943: | Discharged Lieutenant, S213585, 1 POW Guard Company |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Heathfield High School
Joseph Cook Weatherill was born in Moonta, South Australia on the 26th of February 1889. He fought in both World War One and World War Two. His profession before leaving for war was a labourer. His father, Thomas Weatherill, was his next of kin before World War One, but during World War 2 his next of kin was listed as his wife, Rosalie Mabel. Both Joseph Cook and his father were Methodists. Before Weatherill embarked for the First World War, he lived in Port Adelaide, Enfield, where he lived alone. Joseph Cook Weatherill was a fit man, who was 5 feet 6 ¾ inches (154.3 cm) in height, he weighed 161 lb (73kg), his chest measurement was 38 inches (96.5cm). He had a fresh complexion with dark brown hair and grey eyes. When enlisting for World War Two (aged 51), he had a distinctive scar on his right cheek, and vaccination marks on each arm.
Service history
Joseph Cook Weatherill, service number was 456, Army no. S213585, left Australia to fight in World War One with D Company, 10th Battalion, at the age of 25. He embarked from Adelaide on 20th October 1914 aboard HMAT Ascanius (A11). After Six months embarking on the HMAT Ascanius, Joseph landed at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915.
Joseph led a scouting mission which resulted in the capture of two enemy gunners during operations near Gaba Tepe, Turkey. As a result, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for exceptionally good work. His bravery was also mentioned in the Army Camp Orders and mentioned in Dispatches.
Following promotion to Lance Corporal in July, he was promoted to Corporal and then Sergeant in December 1915. Back in Egypt, he transferred to the 50th Battalion and was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2. He then was dispatched to fight in France in June 1916. He was appointed a Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant and was detached to the Officer Cadet Battalion in June 1918. Joseph was sent back to Australia on leave, arriving on 22nd January 1919.
Joseph enlisted for World War Two in 1940 and at that time he had a distinctive scar on his right cheek. In the Second World War, Joseph was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant and fought from 28th June 1940 until 18th November 1943. His last unit was the 1 POW (Prisoner of War) Guard Company.
Between World War One and World War Two, Joseph married Rosalie Mabel. After World War Two, Joseph returned to Adelaide and lived out his life with Rosalie. He died of natural causes in Thebarton, on 28th May 1973, aged 84 years.
References
Session expired | RecordSearch | National Archives of Australia 2023, Naa.gov.au, viewed 11 April 2023, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SessionTimeout.aspx>.
Terrace, V 2023, View digital copy, Naa.gov.au, viewed 11 April 2023,<https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6330047>.
Terrace, V 2023, View digital copy, Naa.gov.au, viewed 11 April 2023, <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=11611309>.
Australian Soldiers, Memorials and Military History 2023, Vwma.org.au, viewed 11 April 2023, <https://vwma.org.au/#show-sign-in-dialog>.
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