LAW, John Alexander
| Service Number: | 2835 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 August 1916, Lismore, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Lawrence, New South Wales, Australia, 24 August 1875 |
| Home Town: | Maclean, Clarence Valley, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Maclean Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Baker |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 5 June 1917, aged 41 years |
| Cemetery: |
Strand Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert, Wallonie, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Maclean Public School Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2835, Lismore, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2835, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2835, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Greg Towner
From my research:
John Alexander (Alex) Law was born at Woodford Leigh near Maclean on 24 August 1875. He attended Maclean Public School and after schooling completed a four year apprenticeship as a baker with J. M. Kelly of Maclean. When he enlisted in Grafton on 4 August 1916 at age 42 he gave his occupation as a baker. Alex had not married.
Alex was assigned to the 5th Reinforcements for No. 3 Pioneer Battalion. He embarked from Sydney on 9 November 1916 and arrived at Devonport, England, on 9 January 1917. He went to the Pioneer Training Battalion at Larkhill before leaving for France on 3 May 1917.
The 3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion moved to Ploegsteert near Messines at the end of May 1917 and were employed in preperation for Operation Magnus Opus. Operation Magnus Opus on 7 June 1917 involved the detonation of explosives in 19 mines with devastating effect that preceded the assault on Messines. Alex had been killed instantly just before this on either the 4th, 5th or 6th June (depending on various eyewitness reports) by an enemy artillery shell.
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