John DICK

DICK, John

Service Number: 1620
Enlisted: 14 December 1914
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 6th Infantry Battalion
Born: Lilydale, Victoria, Australia, 1891
Home Town: Warburton, Yarra Ranges, Victoria
Schooling: Kardella State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Sawmill worker
Died: Killed in Action, Belgium, 4 October 1917
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Korumburra Kardella South State School No 3603, Korumburra Kardella State School No 3196, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), Warburton RSL Gallipoli Memorial, Yarra Junction War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

14 Dec 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1620, 6th Infantry Battalion
19 Feb 1915: Involvement Private, 1620, 6th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: ''
19 Feb 1915: Embarked Private, 1620, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Melbourne

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Private John Dick 6th Battalion AIF, a 26-year-old farmer from Warbuton Victoria, enlisted in December 1914. He was wounded at Gallipoli during May 1915, served in France during 1916, fracturing his leg whilst on fatigues during October. John eventually just disappeared on the battlefield, during the Australian attacks in what was called the Battle of Broodseinde. A few months later he was confirmed as killed in action on the 4 October 1917, which was a black day for Australia, so many men being killed on this date. Having no grave his name is also remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres Belgium.

John’s younger brother Sergeant Archibald Spalding Dick 18th Battalion suffered shrapnel wounds to his head, thigh and buttocks at Hill 60 Gallipoli on the 27th August 1915. Archie was invalided to England and he could not rejoin the 18th Battalion on the Western Front till January 1917. Archie Dick was killed in action the day after his brother went missing, on the 5 October 1917. Nothing is known of the circumstances of his death and he too is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Belgium.

A third brother, Driver Henry Dick of the 10th Company Australian Army Service Corps was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in Belgium only two weeks later.

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