Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Mainwaring - 15966

John Mainwaring was born on the 6th of June 1898 in St Peters, Sydney NSW. He was the third child of John Mainwaring (his father) and Emma née Gedge[1]. His father worked as a blacksmith and engineer to support his wife and five children who lived together at Haldon St, Lakemba in Sydney[2].

Mainwaringsuccessfully completed a qualifying certificate[3] and was accepted into Sydney Technical High School in 1913, displaying exemplary punctuality and conduct according to his 1913 school records[4]. He was a well mannered individual and truly embodied the school’s motto “Manners Makyth Man”. However, his time at Sydney Technical High School soon came to an end as in 1914 his mother passed away (aged 46)[5] and Mainwaring began work as a station hand[6] to support his family. 

John Mainwaring enlisted for the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) on October 2nd 1917 at the Victoria Barracks in Sydney[7]. He was deemed fit for war at just 19 years old and embarked on the HMAT Port Darwin, leaving Australia for the first time on April 30th 1918[8]. Enduring a gruelling two month journey across the Indian Ocean, Mainwaring arrived in the city of Suez in Egypt on June 7th 1918[9]. In the following months, he undertook military training in the Moascar Isolation Camp No.1[10], travelling through the major cities, Port Said and Kantara (now known as El-Qantara) along the way. Upon completion of his training, Mainwaring was set to join the 1st Infantry Battalion[11] as a Private and go on to fight on the Western Front. However, by November 11th 1918, all fighting on the Western Front ceased as the Armistice of Compiègne was signed. John Mainwaring did not have to fight in the war. With five years of brutal conflict coming to an end, Mainwaring left Egypt, boarding the HMT Burma from Kantara back to Sydney on July 26th 1919.[12]

Upon his arrival in Sydney on the 1st of September 1919, Mainwaring was finally reunited with his family. However, this reunion was sadly overshadowed by Mainwaring’s diagnosis of malaria on September 11th[13], shortly after his arrival. An army doctor documented his recovery as “slow” and recommended that he be discharged as “permanently unfit for general service”[14]. He was later discharged from the AIF in accordance with this report on the 3rd of October 1919.[15]

In the following years, John Mainwaring led a fairly peaceful life, only broken by his sister’s death in June 1921[16]. However, his grief was short lived as he found the love of his life, Hilda Ditchburn[17] who he happily married in 1922. They lived together for 20 years until 1942 when John enlisted into the AIF once again during World War 2.[18]

He served as a Lieutenant in the Australian Military Forces from 7th May 1942 until he was discharged on the 8th of September 1945[19]. He returned to Australia, hearing the news of his father’s passing on the 11th of August that same year. [20]

Ultimately, John Mainwaring’s legacy stands as a testament to the remarkable lives of those who fought in and survived the years of brutal conflict that took place during WW1 and WW2. He will be remembered henceforth for his determination through incredibly trying times, supporting his family in times of need and for his indelible service to Australia.

Endnotes

[1] The AIF Project, John Mainwaring, Regimental No.15966

[2] ibid

[3] National Library of Australia, Newspapers and Gazettes, The Sun, Monday 20  Jan 1913, pg.10

[4] STHS 1913 Class 2C records

[5] FamilySearch, John Mainwaring 1898-1960

[6] op. cit. The AIF Project

[7] National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch, B2455 MAINWARING JOHN, pg.1

[8] op. cit. NAA RecordSearch pg.4

[9] op. cit. NAA RecordSearch pg.8

[10] op. cit. NAA RecordSearch pg.17

[11] op. cit. NAA RecordSearch pg.8

[12] op. cit. NAA RecordSearch pg.16

[13] op. cit. NAA RecordSearch pg.13

[14] op. cit. NAA RecordSearch pg.14

[15] ibid

[16] op.cit. FamilySearch

[17] ibid

[18] Virtual War Memorial Australia, MAINWARING John, Service History

[19] ibid

[20] op. cit. FamilySearch

Bibliography

Emma Gedge, Family Search, viewed on 2/09/2024, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/about/LD5Y-VNF

‘John Mainwaring’, Family Search, viewed on 2/09/2024, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/about/L4M2-2SQ

John Mainwaring, The AIF Project UNSW,  viewed on 2/09/2024, https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=338450

John Mainwaring, Virtual War Memorial Australia, viewed on 2/09/2024, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/806371

John Mainwaring, RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia,  pg1-29, viewed on 2/09/2024 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8211040 

Stevenson K, Research on Google Drive, viewed on 2/09/2024