SNOWBALL, John Hearn
| Service Number: | 491 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 October 1914, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Unspecified British Units |
| Born: | Brighton, Victoria, Australia, 21 August 1886 |
| Home Town: | Kew, Boroondara, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Scotch College & Melbourne Grammar School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bookeeper |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France , 15 September 1916, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Guillemont Road Cemetery, Guillemont Plot 1, Row B, Grave 4 |
| Memorials: | Kew War Memorial, Melbourne Grammar School WW1 Fallen Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 491, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 491, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Karroo, Melbourne | |
| 11 Feb 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 491, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Karroo embarkation_ship_number: A10 public_note: '' | |
| 16 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 491, 9th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 21 Nov 1915: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Discharged from Australian Army & then joined up with British Imperial Army 25th December, 1915 | |
| 25 Dec 1915: | Enlisted Second Lieutenant, Unspecified British Units, Commission to 2nd Lieutenant in British Imperial Army A Special Reserves, Royal Field Artillery 108th Brigade | |
| 15 Sep 1916: | Involvement Second Lieutenant, Unspecified British Units, Died of Wounds in France Then a 2nd Lieutenant with Royal Field Artillery (British Regiment) |
Help us honour John Hearn Snowball's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
John Hearn SNOWBALL was born on 21st August, 1886 in Brighton, Victoria
His parents were William SNOWBALL and Mary Sophia BURTON
He enlisted in Melbourne on 14th October, 1914 with the 9th Light Horse Regiment (C Squadron) which embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Karroo on 11th Febuary, 1915.
He was discharged from the Australian Army on 21st November, 1915 with rank as Private and then signed up with the British Army and received a Commission to 2nd Lieutenant on 25th December, 1915 - he was in the Special Reserves, Royal Field Artillery, 108th Brigade
John died of wounds on 15th September 1916 in France and is buried in Guillemont Road, Cemetery. - he name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial
He received the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal & Victory medal
His brother Thomas Keith SNOWBALL (SN943) 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance also served and returned to Australia in 1918 - he died of illness in 1943
Another brother Eric Charles SNOWBALL (SN5434) a Driver with Divisional Train also died on 29th June, 1917 of disease
His cousin Captain John Iley SNOWBALL of the 57th Infantry also died on 14th August, 1918
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Extract from his Biography (see link for full article)
John or "Jack" Snowball attended Scotch College in 1898 and then went to Melbourne Grammar School from 1899 to 1904
He enlisted in October 1914 as a Private in the Light Horse, after sailing for Egypt with the unit in Feb. 1915, he arrived at Gallipoli on 20th May, 1915. He served there until 31st August when he was evacuated with dysentery and taken to hospital in England. In November that year he obtained a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Field Artillery of the British Army and was discharged from the AIF on 21st Nov. 1915. he was posted to the 108th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery, reportedly to a Trench Mortar Battery. He arrived in France in March, 1916.
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
JOHN HEARN SNOWBALL who was killed in action on 14th September 1916 was the eldest son of the late Wm. Snowball (No. 858 on the School Roll). He was born in 1886 and was at School from 1899 to 1904.
He was in a good position with the Berida Pastoral Co. of Gilgandra, N.S.W., when he enlisted on the 14th October 1914. He embarked as trooper in 9th Light Horse on 15th February 1915. He
had two months' training in Egypt and arrived at Anzac on 20th May and took part in operations there till 31st August, when he was invalided to England with dysentery.
On 27th November 1915 he obtained a commission in R.F.A. and was posted to X24 Trench Mortar, 108th Battery. He arrived in France on 28th March 1916, but was killed instantaneously while fighting on 14th September 1916.
He was buried in a Military Cemetery between Trones Wood and Guillemont. Jack Snowball is one of the men of whom the School is proud. He was popular everywhere, his popularity being gained by sterling worth and good fellowship.
Biography
Note: The second given name was incorrectly transcribed onto the official Embarkation Roll. The record on this webiste has been corrected to accord with that of the name as listed on the Enlistment and Attestation papers. Correction undertaken by the RSL Virtual War Memorial Chief Moderator, November 2015.
Next of Kin: Sister, Miss K.M. Snowball, 42 Princess Street, Kew, Victoria
Private John H Snowball discharged from the AIF on 21 November 1915 in order to join the Imperial Forces. He achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in 108th Brigade Royal Field Artiller of the British Army.
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