SCALES-MANNERS, John Daniel
| Service Number: | 2885 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 9th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Leyton, Essex, England, 3 June 1881 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engineer |
| Died: | Pneumonia, Standish House Hospital, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England, 9 January 1917, aged 35 years |
| Cemetery: |
St Nicholas Churchyard, Standish, Gloucestershire, England, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2885, 9th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2885, 9th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ayrshire embarkation_ship_number: A33 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2885, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ayrshire, Sydney |
Additional Information on his Service History
Service History:
Scales embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A33 'Ayrshire' on 1 September 1915. He joined the unit at Alexandria 8 January 1916. Wounded in action, gunshot wound in foot, 27 July 1916. Died of Pneumonia, 9 January 1917. A private letter has been received by, H.E. Carey, Esq., from a young, lady in England, giving details of the death at Standish Red Cross Hospital, near Bristol, on January 9th, of Pte. John Manners Scales, who was formerly in the Government employ, in Darwin, and was among the first to volunteer for service at the front. The story as told in this letter is a rather sad one. The writer mentions, among other things: "Mr. Scales "talked" to me very much about a "friend" he was very, intimate with in Australia." I only, know his Christian name (Jim). He was killed at the front, and Mr. Scales felt the loss of his friend very much, as he "had worked under him at a business." This allusion is interesting, because the "Jim" referred, to was presumably the late Jim Cain, who was killed on the Western front about a year ago. Pte. J. M, Scales was a member of the Second Div. of the A.I.F., and was 34 years of age. After service in Egypt he was transferred to France and was wounded in the foot at the battle of the Somme. He made a good recovery, and was given leave at Christmas. But whilst away he caught a chill, double pneumonia supervened, he was readmitted to the Hospital, where he died a few days later. He was accorded a military funeral, of which the local paper published a long account under the heading "A Brave Anzac". The service was of an impressive character. The funeral procession was headed by a firing party of V.T.C. from Stroud. The coffin was enveloped in the Union Jack and bore the deceased’s cap. Australian soldiers acted as pall bearers. The funeral procession comprised the nursing staff, wounded Anzac comrades, and a numerous attendance of the general public. A firing party fired the usual three volleys and a wounded soldier, accompanied by two boy scouts, sounded "The Last Post". The coffin bore a number of beautiful floral tributes inscribed: A token of gratitude to Australia for standing by the Empire; In memory of one of our brave Australians, from Mrs. E.D. Farran and Mr. E. Jenner Davies; from Sister Hunter and the Nurses in Ward 2, with deepest regret and sorrow; From the Boys at Standish Red Cross Hospital; from Mrs. John W. Audrey, "Kings Hall; With deepest sympathy, from his sweetheart, Daisy; From Miss King (Commandant); In deepest sympathy, from two of the maids of Hawards End, A. Preston and J. Parnell. The nurses and soldiers collected among themselves sufficient money to erect a stone over the grave. The deceased was buried in a beautiful little Churchyard at Standish, two miles from the hospital. In conclusion we quote the following from the private letter above referred to "He was a beautiful character, and was respected by many, which was proved by the large gathering of friends at the church."
http://www.territorystories.nt.gov.au/jspui/handle/10070/214508
Submitted 10 January 2021 by Elizabeth Allen
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
John was born as Daniel John Spindler SCALES on 3rd June, 1881 in Leyton, Essex, England
His parents were Daniel SCALES & Octavia Charlotte SPINDLER
He served under the name of John Manners SCALES but was also known as John David MANNERS
He married Edith WOOD on 5th September, 1907 in St Peters Church Cleethorpe, Lincolnshire, England - 3 known children - while still married to Edith he again married in Queensland on 14th December, 1912 to Kathleen DALY - 1 known child
John died of pneumonia on 9th January, 1917 and is buried in St Nicholas Churchyard, Standish, Gloucester, UK
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See Personal Stories section for further information about his service history
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 – 9th January……“John Manners Scales” was born in London, England on 3rd June, 1881 to parents Daniel Scales & Charlotte Octavia Scales (nee Spindler).
Four of the Scales children were baptised together on the same day – Ascension Day - 10th May, 1888 at St. Margaret’s Church, Lothbury, London, England – Daisy Charlotte Octavia Spindler Scales (born 2 September, 1879); Daniel John Spindler Scales (born 3rd June, 1881); James Thomas Spindler Scales (born 6th July, 1883) & Violet Belinda Spindler Scales (born 25th December, 1886). The family were living at 2 Frith Street, Leytonstone, Essex at the time of the baptisms & their father was listed as a Traveller.
Daniel Scales, father of the four children, died in 1888 at Essex, England. A death was registered in June quarter, 1888 in the district of West Ham, Essex for Daniel Scales, aged 34.
Charlotte Octavia Scales remarried & had the following children – Violet Manners (born 1887) & Elsie Manners (born 1893).
A “John Scales” (born Layton, London) joined Dragoons of the Line on 17th April, 1900 in London, England. He was a 20 year old, single, Billiard Maker & his next-of-kin was listed as his mother – Charlotte Scales, 31 Medora Road, Brixton.
He was posted with 5th Dragoon Guards with a Service number of 5059 at Aldershot on 19th April, 1900. He was recorded as “Deserted” on 17th November, 1900.
John Daniel S. Manners married Edith Wood on 5th September, 1907 in St. Peter’s Church, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England. Their marriage was registered in September, quarter, 1907 in the district of Grimsby, Lincolnshire. They had 3 children – Jack Scales Manners (born 1908); Mary Scales-Manners (born 1910) & Clement Henry Scales Manners (born 1912).
In October, 1911 John Manners Scales came to Australia having obtained employment in the Government Service at Rockhampton as Engineer on a tug.
Jack Daniel Manners married Kathleen Daly on 7th January, 1912 at Southport, Queensland. A son – Alan Daly Manners was born on 27th September, 1912 to parents John & Kathleen Manners (nee Daly).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 16th August, 1915 as John Manners Scales stating he was a 34 year old, single, Engineer when he enlisted in Brisbane, Queensland.
Private John Manners Scales, Service number 2885, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Ayrshire (A33) on 1st September, 1915 with the 9th Infantry Battalion, 9th Reinforcements.
He joined 9th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 7th January, 1916.
Mrs K. Scales, Boys High School, Southport, wrote to Base Records on 7th February, 1916 “Could you be kind enough to let me know the whereabouts of my husband John Manners Scales who is on active service with the 9th reinforcement of the 9th Battalion, he left here in August last & I have had little news of him since.”
Base Records replied to Mrs K. Scales on 15th February, 1916 advising that no report to any effect had been received regarding Private J. M. Scales. The letter continues with “This soldier enlisted as a single man, and next-of-kin is shown as mother, resident in England, but if you wish your name to be recorded as wife, it will be necessary to forward your marriage certificate in support of your claim, and if same is in order the alteration will be affected.”
On 27th March, 1916 Private John Manners Scales proceeded from Alexandria on Troopship Saxonia to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He disembarked at Marseilles, France on 3rd April, 1916.
Private John Manners Scales was wounded in action in France on 23rd July, 1916. He was admitted to 6th General Hospital, Rouen, France on 25th July, 1916 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Foot. Private Scales was transferred to Havre on 25th July, 1916 & embarked from there on 26th July, 1916 on Hospital Ship Asturius for England.
He was admitted wounded to Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, England on 27th July, 1916 & was discharged on 20th December, 1916.
On 20th December, 1916 Private John Manners Scales was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire, England.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire & also in Dorset. Later Training & Convalescing Units were combined under the one Command Depot.
A Telegram was sent to Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F., London at 11 am on 9th January, 1917 from Beaufort War Hospital advising that 2885 Private Scales late 9th Battalion “reported by Auxiliary Hospital, Stonehouse, seriously ill AAA re-admitted there 2nd inst. while on furlough.”
Private John Manners Scales died at 11.15 am on 9th January, 1917 at Standish House Hospital, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England from Pneumonia.
He was buried in Standish Churchyard, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. (Note: The Casualty Form – Active Service & Burial Report recorded Private Scales was buried in Stonehouse Churchyard). Private John Manners Scales is now recorded by the CWGC to be buried in St. Nicholas’ Churchyard, Standish, Gloucestershire, England & has a Private Headstone. His death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/standish.html
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