John Harold Coffen

John Harold Coffen

Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1894
Place of Birth	Perth, Western Australia
Place of Death	Victoria
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 7 months
Description	5'6" (1.68m) tall ; 131 lbs 59.421 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Sleeper hewer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Jarrahdale, Wesern Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Harold Coffen
Military Information
Reg Number	960
Date of Enlistment	17 Aug 1914
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division
Date of Embarkation	31 Oct 1914 ‒ 5 Dec 1914
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A11 Ascanius Fremantle to Alexandria
Date of Return	30 Jun 1918 ‒ 24 Aug 1918
Ship Returned On	HMAT A61 Kanowna
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Three weeks after entering camp John was fined 5 shillings (50 cents) for being AWOL - period not stated, but the fine was normal for an absence of 30 minutes to 1 day. He was an inaugural member of the 11th Battalion, and after training, he travelled with them as part of the 1st Convoy to Egypt aboard HMAT A11 Ascanius where they disembarked in Alexandria before moving into training camps near Cairo. Following a period of training the Australians were included in the Dardanelles Campaign. The 11th Battalion embarked in Alexandria on HMAT A23 Suffolk for Gallipoli on 2 Mar 1915. As a member of the 11th Battalion, he was one of the first ashore as part of the 'cover force'.

On 4 Sep 1915 he had reported to the 1st Field Ambulance with teeth problems. They in turn passed him to the 2nd Field Ambulance on 13 Sep 1915 and then to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station where it was decided to admit him to a hospital ship to transport him to Mudross where he was assessed by the 25th Casualty Clearing Station. At Mudross he was embarked on HMHS Formosa for Port Said with debility and pyrexia. On arrival he was transferred to Heliopolis, Cairo where he was admitted to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 21 Sep 1915. No mention is made of him returning to Gallipoli. There are no entries in his records between 21 Sep 1915 and 1 Apr 1916 when John was admitted to the 4th Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Abbassia with mumps, remaining with them until 10 Apr 1916. He would have travelled from Alexandria to Marseilles aboard HMT Corsican, disembarking in France late on 5 Apr 1916.

From Marseilles John was sent to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot in Étaples arriving there on 29 May 1916. From 26 Jun 1916 until 27 Jul 1916 John was transferred to 1st Entrenching Battalion, but then returned to the 11th Battalion. On 28 Aug 1916 he was attached to the 1st Australian Division HQs for traffic duties after returning to the 11th Battalion from hospital on 30 July.

Appointed Lance Corporal on 3 Dec 1916, he was then promoted Corporal on 20 Apr 1917. Ten days later he was in the hands of the 3rd Field Ambulance which passed him on to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station. Suffering with influenza he was placed on Ambulance Train No. 4 on 6 May 1917 for the 23rd General Hospital and on 14 May 1917 he boarded the HS Stad Antwerpen at Calais for England where he was admitted to the Kitchener Military Hospital on 15 May 1915. Released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital from 29 May 1917 until 25 Jun 1917 after which he was sent to Weymouth on to build his strength.

With his health improving, on 28 Aug 1917 John was transferred to the No. 4 Command Depot at Codford, and then on 6 Oct 1917 to the Overseas Training Brigade. On 10 Nov 1917 he embarked for France from Southampton, rejoining the 11th Battalion on 20 Nov 1917 at Courset, north east of Étaples where they were retraining and building strength. With his unit warned to be returning to the front line in early March 1918, on 28 Feb 1918 John reported ill to the 1st Field Ambulance with debility, and was sent to the Division's Rest Station. On 4 Mar 1918 they transferred him to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station who the next day placed him on Ambulance Train No. 34 which transferred him to the 56th General Hospital.

On 14 Mar 1918 John was evacuated to England aboard the HMAT A69 Warilda, and on 15 Mar 1918 he was admitted to the Reading War Hospital with Trench Fever. On 28 Mar 1918 he had recovered enough to be released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford, Kent after a period of furlough from 4 - 13 Jun 1918. He remained with the 3rd AAH until 30 Jun 1918 when he began his journey home. John was discharged on 18 Sep 1918 by the 5th Military District. Following his return to Australia, Miss Dolly Inch of 174 High street, Elgin in Scotland wrote to the authorities seeking John's address.

Post War

John married Jean Buchanan Sherrard during 1919 in Perth, and they lived at 53 Walcott street, North Perth. John's occupation was given as french polisher.

In 1931 they appeared on the roll for 41 Banole avenue, Armadale, Victoria; 1943 at 210 High street, Prahran, Victoria.

In 1949 Jean is alone at 210 High street, Prahran and by 1977 Jean had down sized to 17/672 Malvern road Prahran; 1980 at 2/55 Ryley street, Wangaratta.

A son John Robert was born 14 Jan 1921 and he served in the 2nd AIF, joining in the field in Papua with Reg No. VX.148254.

External Links

• RSL Memorial