John CARSON

CARSON, John

Service Number: 2595
Enlisted: 20 July 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 21st Infantry Battalion
Born: Leicester, Leicestershire, England, 13 April 1899
Home Town: Lismore, Corangamite, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Leicester, Leicestershire, England, 22 March 1959, aged 59 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

20 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2595, 21st Infantry Battalion
5 Oct 1915: Involvement Private, 2595, 21st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Moldavia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
5 Oct 1915: Embarked Private, 2595, 21st Infantry Battalion, RMS Moldavia, Melbourne
31 Jul 1916: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2595, 21st Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières
15 Sep 1917: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2595, 21st Infantry Battalion, Medically unfit

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

John Carson was the son of Cornelius and Ada Louise Carson, Leicester, England. He had come to Australia with his brother Cecil Hance Carson sometime after 1911.

When John enlisted, he gave his guardian’s address, as Ann Robertson, of Lismore, Victoria. He was only 16 years of age at the time.

His slightly older brother, 5656 Pte. Cecil Hance Carson 14th Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Gueudecourt on 5 February 1917, aged 19.

John joined the 21st Battalion in Egypt during January 1916. During his first major battle, at Pozieres, he was severely wounded on 31 July 1916.  He was struck by a piece of shrapnel in the face which mutilated his lower jaw. He was transferred to England a few weeks later. He was treated in hospital for nearly a year, having lost his lower lip, most of his teeth and much of his jawbone. He endured much plastic surgery and was eventually discharged, medically unfit, in England on 15 September 1917. He was awarded a pension and was living at his parents’ home in Leicester, England. He was only 17 and half when discharged. He stayed in Leicester for much of his life and passed away there in 1959.

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