Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Died on this date – 8th June…… John Henry Little was born at Petersham, Sydney, New South Wales on 22nd September, 1882.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 7th December, 1915 as a 33 year old, single, Farmer from Colo Vale, New South Wales.

Private John Henry Little, Service number 4727, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 13th April, 1916 with the 20th Infantry Battalion, 12th Reinforcements.

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.

On 9th September, 1916 Private Little proceeded overseas to France from 5th Training Battalion at Rollestone, Wiltshire, England. He was marched in to 2nd A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 11th September, 1916 from England. Private Little joined 20th Battalion in the Field on 7th October, 1916.

Private John Henry Little was wounded in action on 14th** November, 1916 (**Note: date as per Casualty Form – Active Service & Statement of Service form). He was admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance on 8th November, 1916 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Face & Jaw then transferred the same day to 38th Casualty Clearing Station with G.S.W. to Chest (injuries as listed on Casualty Form – Active Service). Private Little was admitted to 9th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 8th November, 1916 with G.S.W. to Face & Jaw. He was transferred to 6th General Hospital at Rouen on 2nd December, 1916 then embarked for England on the same day on Hospital Ship St. George.

He was admitted to Cambridge Military Hospital, England on 3rd December, 1916 with Shrapnel wound/s to Face. He was transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, England on 21st April, 1917.

A Medical Report was completed on Private John Henry Little on 15th May, 1917 at No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield Park, Middlesex, England. His disability was listed as “Chronic Nephritis (result of shell wound)” which had originated in November while on Somme, France. “On November 6th 1916 he suffered shrapnel wound of right jaw & neck. He was up till then perfectly healthy. Wound was very septic & was opened up once in December & again in January 1917. Wound did not heal till end of February. He was very weak during this time & had not improved. He suffered much frequency of micturition.”  The cause of Private Little’s disability was listed as Active Service due to a “septic infection of shell wound producing chronic toxaemia.” His present condition was listed as “Wasted & anaemic. Shows cardiac dilation & arteriolosclerosis (?). Oedema of lungs & of legs. Nocturnal frequency of micturition…”  It was recorded that Private Little had been operated on “pus collection in wound evacuated on two occasions.”  The Officer in charge of the case recommended that Private Little be discharged as permanently unfit. The Medical Board found on 15th May, 1917 that Private John Henry Little was permanently unfit for General & Home Service due to Nephritis Chronic.

Private John Henry Little died at 3 am on 8th June, 1917 at 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield Park, Harefield, Middlesex, England from Nephritis & Heart Failure.

He was buried in St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Harefield, Middlesex, England where 112 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/l---n.html