FOREMAN, John Lester
| Service Number: | 255 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 October 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Moonta, South Australia, 15 February 1874 |
| Home Town: | Moonta, Copper Coast, South Australia |
| Schooling: | North Adelaide Public School |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Illness (Dysentery), Palestine, 12 October 1918, aged 44 years |
| Cemetery: |
Haifa War Cemetery, Israel Row A, Grave 9, |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lower North Adelaide War Memorial WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 1915: | Involvement Private, 255, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Karroo embarkation_ship_number: A10 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Feb 1915: | Embarked Private, 255, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Karroo, Melbourne | |
| 12 Oct 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 255, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 255 awm_unit: 9 Light Horse Regiment awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-10-12 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Sergeant J. L. FOREMAN, of the 9th Light Horse, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Foreman, of North Adelaide, died of sickness at the lst East Anglican Field Hospital, Palestine, on October 12, 1918, after four years' continuous service, during which he was neither wounded nor paraded sick. He enlisted on October 20, 1914, and sailed from Melbourne in January, 1915.
He was for seven months on Gallipoli as stretcher-bearer, and saw service alter the evacuation in Egypt, Syria, and the Palestine campaign.
In a letter, he said the Australian Light Horse felt keenly the contemptuous attitude of some of the people regarding the alleged "picnic" in Palestine. He stated that during the last two and a half years more than l8 months of which were spent under very trying climatic conditions in the desert and the Jordan Valley, he had only
had 14 days' leave. He was well known as an athlete, and won a number of trophies for foot racing. He was also a swimmer, and
spoke in glowing terms of the swimming facilities afforded by the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean Sea, and the River Jordan. He was very popular with his comrades. He leaves a widow and four children.
Biography
Distinguished Conduct Medal. Recommended date: 1st October 1918. Awarded: 29 December 1918 List 399.
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Marune, north east of Damascus, on 1 October, 1918. When in charge of a flanking patrol he came upon forty seven of the enemy with machine guns and rifles taking up a position of defence. He ordered his party at once to charge, and captured the whole enemy post, comprising one officer and forty six other ranks.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 42
Date: 20 May 1920
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