Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 17th October…… John Hulbert Casson was born at Ballan, Victoria on 30th January, 1893.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 12th October, 1914 as a 21 year old, single, Railway employee from “Kilsyth”, via Croydon, Melbourne, Victoria.

On 12th October, 1914 was attached to No. 2 Mobile Veterinary Section, A.I.F. He was promoted to Sergeant on 1st November, 1914.

According to information listed on the Roll of Honour supplied by his father – John Hulbert Casson had served for 4 years as Farrier Sergeant with 19 Australian Light Horse also “On enlistment was detailed by Captain Strong to assist Lieut. Boreham to form the Victorian Unit of the Veterinary Corps.”

Sergeant John Hulbert Casson, Service number 21, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Bakara (A41) on 22nd December, 1914 with the Army Veterinary Corps, 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section.

On 6th January, 1916 Sergeant Casson was admitted to 4th Auxiliary Hospital at Cairo with Mumps. He was discharged the same day & admitted to 4th Auxiliary Hospital at Tel-el-Kebir on 6th January, 1916 with Mumps. Sergeant Casson was discharged from Hospital on 25th January, 1916 & proceeded to duty on 30th January, 1916.

(Note- there is no record to show where Sergeant John Hulbert Casson was after he embarked from Australia in December, 1914 until he was admitted to Hospital in Cairo in January, 1916).

He was transferred to 2nd D.A.C. (Divisional Ammunition Column) at Zeitoun on 10th March, 1916 & was taken on strength of 2nd D.A.C. from 2nd M.V. (Mobile Veterinary) Section on 10th March, 1916.

Sergeant Casson embarked from Alexandria on H.T. Magdelina on 20th March, 1916 & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 27th March, 1916 to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He was attached to No. 4 Section in France on 4th May, 1916.

On 16th August, 1916 Sergeant Casson was admitted to Anzac Rest Station in France with Enteritis & Rheumatism. He was transferred & admitted to 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux on 17th August, 1916 with Myalgia. Sergeant Casson embarked for England on Hospital Ship St. Denis at Boulogne, France on 20th August, 1916.

He was admitted to 3rd Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, England on 6th September, 1916.

The family of Sergeant John Hulbert Casson received a telegram on 21st September, 1916 advising that Sergt. Casson was dangerously ill with a cerebral tumor.

On 16th October, 1916 Sergeant Casson was reported seriously ill suffering from a Tumour on the brain at 3rd Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, England.
Sergeant John Hulbert Casson died on 17th October, 1916 at 3rd Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, England from Cerebral Tumour.

The body of Sergeant John Hulbert Casson was sent from the Hospital authorities at Sheffield to his Uncle – John Casson for burial. Sergeant John Hulbert Casson was buried on 21st October, 1916 in Willesden New Cemetery, Willesden, Greater London, England – Plot number N. 639 (in the Family Grave) and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/new-cemetery.html

Sgt H. Casson is remembered on the Elmhurst & District Photographic Honour Roll, located in Mechanics Institute, High Street, Elmhurst, Victoria.