Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Jesse Wormwell was a soldier who served in the 10th Battalion, in the Australian Imperial Force during World War 1. He was born on the 27th August of 1889 in Yorkshire, England. However, he spent most of his early life in Australia with his parents. His hometown was Murray Bridge, South Australia. His Father was James Wormwell. His next of kin was his brother Samuel Wormwell, who also fought during World War 1. Jesse Wormwell married at Parish Church to Sarah Ann Child when she was 22 while Jesse Wormwell was 21. They were married on the 11th October 1910. 

Jesse Wormwell decided to join the Australian Imperial Force on the first of October, 1914 when he was 25 years old. His enlistment was at Morphettville, Adelaide, South Australia. Before 1916, the United Kingdom and Australia’s enlistment policy did not accept married men. Suspect, in order to become a soldier, Jesse handed up his enlistment referring to himself as single. According to NAA records, he admitted he had a partner 4 years later in 1918. Similar to all soldiers, Jesse Wormwell was ranked ‘Private’ on the 20th of Oct on his embarkation. He was measured to be 5.9 feet tall and weighed 165 lbs, with a chest measure of 35.5 inches, fitting all the criteria of enlistments. Similar to most English soldiers, Jesse Wormwell had blue eyes, light brown hair, and white skin. He was a Methodist. 

Jesse Wormwell worked in the 10th Battalion. On the 20th of October 1914, he embarked on the HMAT ‘Ascanius on the 20th of October 1914 and continued to sail with the Battalion. Leaving Colombo, the Battalion set off to MENA Camp in Egypt and disembarked on the 1st of December. The soldiers trained there. On the 12th of March,1915 the Battalion then set off for the island. Finally prepared for the war, the 10th Battalion headed off towards Gallipoli. When first landing at Gallipoli, the 10th Battalion formed scout troops and searched around the shore. However, the natural geographical disadvantage suffered over 50% of the casualties. However, a year later, the 10th Battalion did an extremely good and important job in winning against the Turkish counterattack on the 19th of May. 

According to The Adelaide Chronicle newspaper, unfortunately, Jesse Wormwell was one of the fellow soldiers who was wounded during service. On the 25th of May 1915, Wormwell was reported to be wounded and was sent to the 1st S.W. Hospital. Birmingham with a Sever's disease suspected to be the calf of the leg (flesh). During this time when he was in recovery, the Battalion evacuated Gallipoli on the 21st of November 1915 and continued to evacuate until the 19th of December of the same year. Jesse Wormwell was unfortunately wounded again on the 6th of June, 1918 but there was no record of where or when he was wounded. During this time the Tenth Battalion sailed to France and the West Frontline, from the March of 1916 to late 1918, the Battalion fought in war. Jesse Wormwell was reported with a gunshot in his right leg, suspecting he was hurt during this time’s Trench War. Jesse Wormwell was sent to NYD on the 10th of May for recovery and did not return to the battlefield before World War I ended. However, his wound was only reported on the 6th of June 1918.

On the 11minue, 11 o'clock the 11th of November 1918, the battlefield was finally silent, World War I ended. Jesse Wormwell was fortunate to become one of over two hundred and sixty thousand Australians who survived World War I. Several months later, after his recovery, Jesse Wormwell returned to Adelaide on the 24th of Jan, 1919,  when he was 29 years old. Unfortunately, his brother, Samuel Wormwell was killed in action and did not return with him. 40 years later, on the 19th of November 1959, Jesse Wormwell finished his glorious life due to lung cancer. His body was buried at the Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia. He is remembered and respected on the Murray Bridge Roll of Honour (also known as Murray Bridge Memorial Garden), today. Lest We Forget.