BOLT, William John
| Service Number: | 1906 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 28th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Fremantle, Western Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Fireman |
| Died: | Fremantle, Western Australia, 14 July 1936, cause of death not yet discovered, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Fremantle Cemetery, Western Australia Nondenominational Monumental Portion R2 Grave 0036 |
| Memorials: | Fremantle Scots Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1906, 28th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 1906, 28th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 1906, 28th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Fremantle | |
| 6 Sep 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1906, 28th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour William John Bolt's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Helen Harmer
John William Bolt was born in Fremantle, the youngest son of Captain Edward Bolt and Hannah Owston. His father had died by the time he enlisted and his mother lived at 35 Arundel St, Fremantle. John enlisted on the 25.6.15 in Perth, aged 23 years 10 months. He was allocated the rank of Private with the service number 1906 in the 3/28th Battalion. A locomotive fireman, he declared himself to be Church of England, although others in the family were Presbyterian. John is described as being 5 feet 8 ½ inches tall, with a chest measurement of 38-40 inches, dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair. He embarked at Fremantle on HMAT Anchises A68. Wounded in action in France 29.7.16 with a gunshot wound to the face and left eye, he was evacuated to England and admitted to the 2nd London General Hospital in Chelsea. At first, the wound was classified as mild, but then it was changed to severe, and he lost the sight of the eye. He embarked at Plymouth on the 29.5.17 to return to Australia on the HS Barambah and was discharged on the 6. 9. 17. He was granted a war pension of 45/- fortnightly from 7.9.1917. After the war, he returned to work at the WA Government Railways, Fremantle and remained there until ill health overtook him. He was a member of the Fremantle Lodge No 4, I.O.O.F. and an old member of the St. John Ambulance Corps, Railway Division. He possessed a fine tenor voice and for a while was attached to the Masquerader Company of singers. He was described as being of bright and cheerful disposition and popular. John died on the 14.7.1936 at his home at 16 South Lane, Fremantle in Fremantle, aged 44, leaving behind his wife Emma and children June, Donald, Dawn and Ross. He was described as the dearly loved youngest son of the late Captain Edward Bolt, the late Mrs. Captain Owston, brother of Edward (Fremantle), Captain Benjamin (China), Nellie (Mrs. J. A. McFarlane, Peppermint Grove), and loved uncle of Roy, Winnie and little Nita. John was buried in the Undenominational section Mon R2 Grave 0036 at Fremantle Cemetery. Pastor K. H. Nelson, of the Four Square Mission, conducted the service at the graveside, assisted by Colonel Bentley. His funeral was conducted by attended by at least 200 people, including his sister and brother-in-law J.A. McFarlane (also honoured at Scots Church). The coffin was draped in the Union Jack and Bugler Frank Hurst sounded the last post.
He left £1710 to WA Trustee Executor and Agency Co Ltd.
NAA WW1 War Service Records barcode 3096493. WA Metropolitan Cemeteries Deceased Name Search.
The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Thu 16 Jul 1936 Page 3
Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954) Sun 23 Aug 1936 Page 20 LATEST WILLS
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