Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

As provided by Julie Loxton and Peg Malycha

John Cass was born 13th June 1892, the fourth child born to James Joseph and Annie Louisa Cass in Whixley, Yorkshire, England.
After completing his education, John and his older brother Oliver began a mechanical engineering apprenticeship with the Mann's Patent Steam Cart & Wagon Company in Leeds.
In 1914 together with his parents, sister and other four brothers the family immigrated to Australia. The opportunity for the five Cass sons to have a farming career was their motive. Purchasing 1887 acres at Pyap West in the Loxton District they enthusiastically started to clear the land.

As war was declared on Germany by Great Britain on 4th August 1914 this encouraged the eldest Cass son Bouchier to enlist by December 1914 followed by Oliver in June 1916 and lastly John to enlist on November 4th 1916.
John joined the 1st Machine Gun Battalion and left Australia from Melbourne aboard the HMAT A71 'Nestor' on November 21st 1917. Via Egypt John arrived in Southampton, England on January 13th 1918.
On April 1st 1918 he was sent over to France as part of the 21st Machine Gun Company which was assigned to the 1st Division. As part of the 21st MGC he would have been involved in the battle of Hazebrouck during the German spring offensive. Then from August 8th part of the allied 100 day offensive.

During the Battle of Mont St. Quentin he had the devastating news of the loss of his two older brothers within 5 days of each other. He told the story to his children that he was going to see Oliver in hospital to tell him Bouchier had been killed as when he got there he was told that Oliver had just died as well.

John returned to Australia on March 3rd 1919.

John lived in the Loxton District for the rest of his life, where he continued to farm at Pyap West. The farm remains in descendant ownership today.

He died on October 17th 1973 aged 81 years and is buried in the Loxton Cemetery.