Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born  13 February 1886 in Grange, South Australia
(SA Birth record 1842 - 1906 Book: 369 Page: 358 District: PtA.)

Father Christopher Michael BAGOT and Mother Eleanor Mary Bagot (nee HAWKER).
(later his mother lived at Heriot Bay, British Columbia, Canada.)

On enlisting John resided at: c/o C W Ive, Woodville, South Australia.

Previous service:
1 year senior cadets, Geelong, Victoria
6 months AIF; Officers Training School No. 3;
Church of England Agriculturalists.

Described on enlisting as 28 years 7 months; single; 5' 8 1/2" tall; dark complexion;
hazel eyes; black hair; Church of England.

15/9/1914      Completed medical - fit for service
                      Enlisted at Morphettville
                      Commanding Officer appointed John to A Squadron, 9th Light Horse
                      Morphettville Camp

Bagot trained in South Australia for seven months with the 9th Light Horse before transferring to the Light Horse Depot at Broadmeadows

13/3/1915     Married Eileen Dubois Ive, Woodville, South Australia

He passed his examination for commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant and by the time he embarked he held this rank.

24/3/1915      promoted to 2nd Lieutenant

12/5/1915      Embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Persic A34 with 13th Light Horse Regiment.

26/8/1915      promoted to Lieutenant

4/9/1915        embarked for overseas ex 'Megantic', into Alexandria, Egypt
The RMS Megantic weighed 5,531 tons with an average cruise speed of 15 knots or 27.78 kmph. It was owned by F.Leyland & Co., Liverpool. It was torpedoed and sunk on 10 June 1917.

The 13th Light Horse landed on 11 September 1915. For most of its time at Gallipoli the regiment manned the trenches at Lone Pine, one of the most heavily contested parts of the ANZAC front line. The regiment left Gallipoli on 20 December 1915.

7/1/1916        disembarked 'Empress of Britain' ex Mudros Greece, into Alexandria

The 13th Light Horse carried out traffic control, rear area security and prisoner escort tasks, and, when the tactical situation permitted, the more traditional cavalry role of reconnaissance.

17/4/1916      Taken on strength into 1st Light Horse Regiment, Tel El Kebir, Egypt

23/5/1916      Taken on strength Machine Gun Training depot, Tel El Kebir

24/5/1916      To assume Command of Machine Gun Training Depot, Tel El Kebir

Back in Egypt, the infantry component of the AIF was expanded from two divisions to four and the 13th Light Horse was broken down to provide a divisional cavalry squadron for the 2nd, 4th and 5th Divisions. These squadrons proceeded to France with their divisions in March and June 1916, and were eventually reunited in July when the 13th Light Horse was reformed as the cavalry regiment for I ANZAC.

16/6/1916      Embark to join British Expeditionary Force, ex Alexandria, Egypt
24/6/1916      Disembark into Marseilles, France

7/7/1916        Taken on strength of 1st Anzac Army Corps Light Horse Regiment, France

It was most active during the more mobile phases of the war on the Western Front, which included the follow-up of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917. The regiment had become the Australian Corps cavalry regiment upon its formation in November 1917.

15/9/1917      Proceeding on leave - France
2/9/1917        Rejoined from leave

1/11/1917      promoted in the field to Captain in 13th Light Horse Regiment

7/4/1918        Specialty mentioned in Sir Douglas  Haig’s desptach

28/5/1918      Mention in Despatches - London Gazette
                      "For galant conduct and devotion to duty in the field.
                       This officer did good service for 4 months in Gallipoli.
                       March to April 1917 rendered exceptionally fine service whilst engaged
                       on reconnaisance service.
                       Again during the operations East of Ypres, Zonnebeke sector, September
                       to October 1917, he was engaged on patrol work and display great skill
                       and courage in carrying out his duties under HEAVY FIRE.
                       His conduct has at all time been of the highest order and his devotion to
                       duty during 3 years service most commendable."

Stemming of the German Spring Offensive of 1918, and the allied offensive of August and September 1918.

10/8/1918      Detached to 4th Army Musketry School, France

2/9/1918        Rejoined 13th Light Horse Regiment, East of Ypres, Zonnebeke sector

The regiment’s largest engagement was during the operations to capture the Hindenburg “outpost line” between 5 and 9 September 1918 when it provided the advance guard, along a front of 13.5 kilometres, for the advance of the Australian Corps.

11/10/1918    To UK on leave, France
27/10/1918     Rejoined unit ex leave, France

The 13th Light Horse was completing a period of rest and retraining when the war ended on 11 November 1918.

19/12/1918     To Paris on leave, France
22/12/1918     Rejoined unit from leave

After the armistice the 13th Light Horse personnel were progressively returned to Australia for discharge.

11/1/1919      Proceeded to UK for return to Australia

22/1/1919      Marched into No.2 Com Depot, Heymouth

7/2/1919        marched out to Port of England for return to Australia from No.2 Com depot
                      Returned to Australia on 'Lancashire'

In 1919 the 'Lancashire' was used as a troopship between Antwerp / Plymouth and Australia.
1920 Released to Bibby Line and refitted to passenger ship standards, converted from coal to oil fuel. Used on the UK - Far East passenger service and also for trooping work. 1930 converted to a permanent troopship. Nov.1939 carried the first contingent of the Indian Expeditionary Force from Bombay to Marseilles. June 1944 acted as commodore ship for the Juno Beach D-Day landings. 1945 Converted to a store and supply ship for the Pacific fleet. Used at Hong Kong to restore power supplies after the war ended and then assisted with the repatriation of sick troops. 1946 reconditioned into a peacetime troopship and mainmast removed. Trooped to India, Cyprus and the Far East. 1956 replaced by 'Oxfordshire' and scrapped at Barrow in Furness.

19/2/1919      Disembarked in Australia

The regiment was disbanded on 30 April 1919.

18/5/1919      discharged from service

Medals:
WWI Star 1914/15 (2276); British War medal (3979); Victory medal (3938)

Children:       Christopher and Eleanor

John last lived at Burnside before passing away.

30/3/1961      John passed away, Repatriation Hospital, Springbank SA  (75 years old)
(SA Death record: 1916 - 1972, Book : 921, Page 2099, District Code : Ade)

buried in:       North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth, SA
                     Path 10 South; Plot 0600-602

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  3 October 2014.  Lest we forget.