John Feast

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Geraldton, Western Australia
Death	13 Jul 1941, aged 64
Place of Death	Mundijong, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	40 years, 10 months
Description	5'9" (1.75m) tall; fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Thumb on right hand missing.
Occupation	labourer
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Mardella South West Railway line, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother Mrs Mary A. Feast
Military Information
Reg Number	3098
Date of Enlistment	21 Aug 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	5th Pioneer Battalion, 7th reinforcement / 5th Division
Date of Embarkation	9 Nov 1916 - 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire
Date of Return	4 May 1917
Ship Returned On	HMAT A54 Runic
Fate	Returned to Australia - medical
Monument	Mundijong Serpentine
Medals	British War Medal

Pre War

Note on file to effect that he should never have been enlisted given he had lost his thumb 15 or more years before.

Electoral roll entries - 1903 a labourer n the Harvey Main Drain; 1906 labourer at Keysbrook; 1909 - 1910 a teamster at Mornington; 1912 - 1917 a horse driver at Whittaker's Mill

War Service

On entering Blackboy Hill camp, John was initially allocated to reinforcement drafts for the 48th and then the 51st Battalions before on 23 Sep 1916 he was deemed more suitable for as Pioneer battalion reinforcement.

Travelled to England, but physical disability prevented him from going to France.

Discharged at 5th Military District on 13 Jul 1917.

Post War

In 1922 John married Rose Buckland. Children were Norm, Gwen, Ron, Violet, Albert, John, Pauline, Lillian, Betty, and Eric. Rose died 23 Apr 1972 aged 72. Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1926 a horse driver at No.2 Railway Mill Dwellingup; 1931 at Cockram street, Mundijong teamster; 1936 No.2 State Mill, horse driver; 1937 labourer in Mundijong.

Notes

No thumb on his right hand at time of enlistment.