Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Richard Westley was born in Poplar, England during November of 1884. He was devoted to the Church of England and spent his life between Europe and Australia. His next of kin, Ethel Westley, became his wife on May 11th of 1914. They resided in Eden Hills, South Australia, where their two children were born and raised. John had an extensive military history before serving in WW1. Since the age of 19, he belonged to the Seaforth Highlanders, a line infantry regiment of the British army. He worked as an institutional staff member for 1 month and was still serving at the time of his WW1 enlistment. His previous battle experiences led him to the Boer War (1899-1902) at the age of 16, likely as a cadet due to his youth. When he was not an active soldier, his source of income centred around farming.

The 5-foot-4-inch male enlisted for war at a recruiting office in Mitcham, South Australia on the 16th of February 1917 aged 33. His motives to sign up are likely connected to his previous military service and the extreme shortage of Australian soldiers from 1916. On the 23rd of June 1917, four months after his enlistment, unit HMAT A30 ‘Borda’ embarked from Adelaide, South Australia carrying Westley onboard. The troopship docked in Europe on the 26th of August. John Richard Westley, number 7357, was the 24th reinforcement of the 10th Battalion and was instantly promoted as a sergeant. This title made him responsible for a group of roughly 15 soldiers who he was authorised to control as a representative of the commanding officer of his Battalion. September 1917 saw the Battalion move to Belgium in the leadup to the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. This period saw Westley engage in intense training and preparation until the 17th, when the Battalion marched to the Ypres Salient on the Western Front. He moved out for action at 11.30pm on the 19th and engaged in battle for 3 days. The following week was spent reorganising prior to the commencement of the Celtic Wood Operation at midnight on the 30th. John engaged in the Third Battle of Ypres, a campaign between the allies and the German Empire, from the 1st to the 8th of October 1917. In the early hours of the 9th of October, the 10th Battalion carried out an attacking operation against the enemy as the Third Battle approached its climax. 85 men, including Westley, were led to raid near Broodseinde. They were severely outnumbered and struggled greatly. Of the 85 men to enter Celtic Wood, just 14 returned to their lines.

Sergeant John Richard Westley was one of the 14 survivors, but on the 17th of October 1917, he was admitted to the Sutton Veny Military Hospital due to deterioration of his asthma. On November 7th, he contracted bronchitis, and was transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield, UK. Westley was later discharged on the 15th. He marched from Harefield to Perham Downs on the 16th and rested until marching into the No.1 Australian Command Depot on the 21st. On the same day, John marched to the No.2 Australian Command Depot located in Weymouth. Since checking in at the second Command Depot, there is no record that Westley ever safely returned to camp in Belgium. It is unclear where he spent December of 1917 and January of 1918, but it can be presumed that he boarded a vessel to Australia.

Westley’s cousin inquired concerning his whereabouts in March of 1918. It was then confirmed by The Red Cross Information Bureau that number 7357 was declared medically unfit to fight and returned home per Port Darwin on the 11th of January 1918. His service in war earned him a returned soldier badge, and Star, British War Memorial, and Victory medals.  

Life after World War 1 was hardly an uncomplicated experience for John Richard Westley. The mental suffering and post-traumatic stress he was compelled to bare had an extreme impact on his livelihood. After being separated from his family for an unknown reason, he confessed to stealing €600 from the Soldiers Land Settlement office in Adelaide and being in possession of a revolver without a permit. This was later proved to be a false admission, and Westley was free of charges due to his excellent army record and rationality behind the lie. He claimed to have been homesick and longed for a passage home to his wife and children. When denied conviction, Westley’s mental health problems escalated, ultimately leading to his suicide attempt. Whilst under the influence of alcohol, he fired three shots at his head without effect.

John Richard Westley died in active service during WW2 on September 30th, 1942, aged 58. He was buried in Burwood Cemetery, Victoria, his headstone reading “7357 Sergeant J.R. Westley 10th Battalion”.

The ANZAC spirit was frequently demonstrated by John Richard Westley. The ANZAC qualities of perseverance, courage, mateship, leadership, and sacrifice were exhibited through his actions and experiences. The spirit is not confined to the battlefield and is described as “a powerful driving sensation that can only be felt”. Westley showed leadership when he took on the role as sergeant immediately after his embarkation. Also, he persevered through many challenges in life after war, choosing to live and provide for his family even whilst suffering mentally. Westley courageously entered Celtic Wood knowing the 10th Battalion would be outnumbered, leading on to the ANZAC ideal of ‘never owning defeat’. He fought in a total of three major wars and eventually offered the ultimate sacrifice: his life.