REARDON, John Michael
| Service Number: | 10659 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 December 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Divisional Signal Company |
| Born: | 1891, place not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Violet Town, Strathbogie, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Violet Town State School |
| Occupation: | Postal Assistant |
| Died: | Collapsed while playing bowls, 1952, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Shepparton Public Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Euroa Telegraph Park, Frankston Great War Roll of Honour, Hawthorn Postmaster General's Department Victoria 1, Violet Town Honour Roll WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 May 1916: | Involvement Sapper, 10659, 3rd Divisional Signal Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 25 May 1916: | Embarked Sapper, 10659, 3rd Divisional Signal Company, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne |
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REARDON John Michael 10659 SPR
3rd Divisional Sig Coy
1891-1952
On 29 December 1915 at the age of 24, John Michael (Jack) was the second son of Patrick and Ann (Traynor) Reardon to enlist in WW1. His job had been as a postal assistant at Frankston.
His initial training was at the Signal School at Broadmeadows before embarking on Ascanius on 27 May 1916, arriving in England two months later. There was further training in England before travelling to France in November. The following February 1917, he was treated at a Divisional Rest Station for myalgia, returning to his unit five days later.
On 8 September Jack was admitted to the 58th General Hospital at St Omer with an accidentally dislocated humerus. He was transferred to a Convalescent Depot, then to No 3 rest Camp before returning to his unit on 1 January 1918.
Later in January Jack had a short spell in the 11th Field Ambulance suffering from scabies, re-joining his unit by the end of the month. Between March and August he was shuffled from the Australian Corps Sig Coy, detached to Australian Corps Liaison Forces, re-joining 3rd Div Sig Coy.
In November there were 14 days leave in England, then a further three months back at the Front, before leaving England to return to Australia aboard the Soudan.
He arrived back home on 29 June 1919, to be discharged two months later on 13 August.
Returning to his pre-war job with the postal department he worked in country towns in Northern Victoria. He was promoted to the position of Post Master at Ultima in 1930, then at Tongala, Gundagai, Cootamundra, and Ararat before returning to Shepparton in 1950.
In 1931 he married Eileen Moylan of Dookie and together they had two sons and two daughters, Francis, Mary, Raymond and Eileen.
Jack was a keen bowler and it was while enjoying a game of bowls that he collapsed and died at the early age of 60. He is buried in the Shepparton Cemetery.
Service Medals: 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal
Memorials: Main Honour Board, Memorial Hall, Violet Town
Copper plaque affixed to exterior wall of Memorial Hall, Violet Town
Tree No 62 - Liquidambar- was planted in 1917 by C Croxford.
It was still standing in 2013 and was tended by Frank Reardon.
© 2016 Sheila Burnell
Click images to start slideshow.