Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Family and Early Years

John Arthur Johncock was the only son of Charles Fuller Johncock (1867 - 1939) and Emily Louise Johncock (1870 -1960) nee Bond. He was born at Manoora on the 10th February 1894. Charles was Headmaster and his wife a Monitor at Manoora Primary School, the small town located on the Barrier Highway between Saddleworth and Burra in the mid-North of South Australia. The Johncock family was originally early settlers at Balhannah in the Adelaide Hills. Many of the family became teachers and then spread to all parts of South Australia with their teaching appointments. John would also follow in the family tradition. A sister Mabel Emily would also become a teacher after studying music at Adelaide University.

Early Education - Pupil Teacher - School Sport

John's early education was dictated by where his father was teaching. His early primary education was at Gawler River and then at Orroroo and Clare. In 1908 - 1910 he went to Petersburg High School to complete his Junior and Senior Public Examinations. He received a credit for English Literature in the Senior Examination, the only person to do so outside of Adelaide. In February 1910 at 16 years of age John had receive his first Education Department appointment as a Monitor at the Orroroo Primary School. In 1911 he went to Adelaide High School to complete his Higher Public Examinations where he passed English Literature.

While at Adelaide High School he played football for the 1st XV111 team. Also, in the same team was his uncle Ernest who had recently come to the school as a pupil teacher. Ironically, John was a few months older than his uncle which would have been of great amusement to his schoolmates. Both John and Ernest played in the interstate contest played against Melbourne High School.

John only attended Adelaide High School for the one year and after completion of his Higher Year was appointed as a pupil teacher in 1912 at Clare Public School where his father had just been appointed headmaster. During 1912 his father Charles had enrolled in the Arts Faculty at Adelaide University at 47 years of age. John Continued as a pupil teacher in 1913, while also completing some subjects at the Adelaide school of Art. While living at Clare, John in 1912 and 1913 played football for the Clare team and also the occasional game of cricket.

Adelaide University Enrollment and Football for the Blacks

John enrolled in the Arts Faculty at Adelaide University in 1914 and passed subjects History of the United Kingdom and Pure Mathematics. While at the University he played part of the season for the University football Team. During the year he also had an assistant teaching position at Richmond Primary School.

In 1914, John also attended the School of Instruction in Junior Cadet Training. It was conveniently located at Jubilee Oval which was adjacent to Adelaide university.

In 1915, John, his father Charles and Uncle Ernest were all enrolled in the Arts faculty. In 1915 he was posted for a period to Thebarton Primary school then later as a locum head teacher to Long Plains, a rural town 73km north of Adelaide. In 1916 he had postings at Thebarton, Norwood and Victor Harbor. However, events in Europe would change the course of history and the immediate aspirations of the young teacher.

War Service

John at 22 years of age enlisted on 7th October 1916, he is described and standing 5ft 6in and 134lbs. Having spent time in the school cadets and Citizen Military Forces he was sent to the NCO training camp at Mitcham. With the rank of Corporal, he was assigned to the newly formed A.I.F. 43rd Battalion and In July 1917 his Unit embarked for overseas service from Sydney on the HMAT (A16) Star of Victoria/Port Melbourne.

Two months later in September 1917 the troop ship arrived at Liverpool, England. During the journey John spent six days in the ship's hospital. It was the forerunner of many bouts of illness while serving overseas. Almost immediately after arriving in the south of England he found himself hospitalised again, this time with Mumps.

Having recovered and returning to duty he proceeded in December 1917 to the port of Havre in France to join the 43rd Battalion. The next nine months was spent in the field with little information provided in his records. His mother back in Australia had not heard from her son during this period and contacted the Red Cross twice to enquire of her son's welfare.

The 43rd Battalion in 1918 had played a vital role in the Somme Valley and drove the Germans from Villers-Bretonneux and then back to the Hindenberg Line. The next piece of information on his service record was that in September John was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, however in October was in hospital again, this time with gastritis.

After the Armistice and having recovered from his illness, he rejoined his unit and was made an acting Sergeant. During the demobilisation he was twice admitted to hospital with measles and therefore remained in France until May 1919. He was at last repatriated back over the channel in July and finally boarded the troop carrier HMAT (A18) Wiltshire in England for the journey home.

He arrived back in Australia and disembarked in August and was discharged on the 17th September 1919.

After the War, Marriage and Teaching Profession

John soon after his return to South Australia received a posting at Mount Gambier Public School where he remained until 1921 and then was transferred to Port Pirie Public School.

John married Sarah Burnard Temby (1894 - 1975) on 11th January 1921 at the Spicer Memorial Church, 4th Avenue, St Peters, SA. He had known Sarah from his days teaching at Long Plains where her family had the farming property, Paddy's Station, at the nearby Korunye township. Soon after the wedding John and Sarah moved to Port Pirie where John had been recently appointed to the local school. A son, Arthur William Johncock (1921 - 1992) was born 1st November 1921 at Nurse Dow's Hospital, Port Pirie.

In 1923 the family moved back to Adelaide after John had been transferred to Sturt Street Primary School in the City of Adelaide. He was Chief Assistant and in charge of the school in the headmaster's absence. With his football background he had provided "great assistance" to the football team which had won the inaugural Mark L. Mitchell Shield during the 1923 Primary School's football season.

While back in Adelaide in 1923, John had again enrolled at Adelaide University and passed an Economics subject.

The Sturt Street School’s football success continued under John’s coaching and in 1925 the School was again presented with the Mark L. Mitchell for the third year in succession.

By 1926, John was again in the country, having been appointed to the headmaster's position at Booleroo Centre Public School in the mid-north of the State; an area he knew well from his early years. There he remained for several years and participated in the local community and was on the committee of the local football club. His second son, Ian Keith (1927 - 2009) was born there on the 8th January 1927. A third son was born on 22nd January 1929, however sadly it appears this child died in infancy. In 1932 he returned to Orroroo Public School as headmaster where 22 years earlier he had received his first Education Department appointment as a monitor. His father Charles had also been headmaster there at the time. On October 7th, 1937, he was still there to welcome many old scholars back to the school as the town celebrated it Golden Jubilee (1887 - 1937).

Sadly, John’s father, Charles Fuller Johncock, died on May 5th, 1939. His mother Emily lived a further 21 years after Charles, passing away in 1960. John had returned to Adelaide and an appointment as headmaster at Brighton Primary School just prior to his fathers' death.

In 1940 John was transferred to Largs Bay Primary School as headmaster where he spent the next 12 years, his longest stay at any school during his long teaching career.

In 1946 John and Sarah celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary and at the time were living on Belair Road at Blackwood. In 1952 at the age of 58 he was appointed headmaster at Colonel Light Gardens Primary School. Details of his retirement are not yet available.

Death

John Arthur Johncock died on 16th April 1970 at Glenalta and was laid to rest at Centennial Park Cemetery not far from the Colonel Light garden's School. He was survived by Sarah (d 1975) and sons Arthur (A.I.F. WW2 d 1992) and Ian (d 2009) all have been now laid to rest at Centennial Park.

Profile added with the permission of the author Rob O'Shannassy.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.