John James Emery
From Our Contribution
Western Mail 18 Jun 1915 | |
Drill of The Foot-Hills 1917 Feb-Mar edition | |
Personal Information | |
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Date of Birth | Not known |
Place of Birth | Edmonton, Middlesex, England |
Death | 1 May 1915 |
Place of Death | Gallipoli, Turkey |
Age at Enlistment | 25 years, 8 months |
Description | 7¾" (1.72m) tall; weight 137 lbs (62.1 kg); fair complexion, brown eyes, black hair |
Occupation | brickworker |
Religion | Church of England |
Address | Beenup, Western Australia |
Next of Kin | Mother Mrs Eliza Emery (in the UK) |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | 1466 |
Date of Enlistment | 19 Nov 1914 |
Rank | Private |
Unit/Formation | 16th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement /4th Brigade, 2nd Division |
Date of Embarkation | 22 Feb 1915 - 24 Mar 1915 Port Suez |
Ship Embarked On | HMAT A50 Itonus |
Fate | Killed in Action 1 May 1915 Quin's Post?? Gallipoli |
Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel) Lone Pine Memorial Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial[1] |
Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Aged 21 when he arrived in Australia. Before working locally the Electoral Rolls suggest that John was in Boya working as a quarryman in 1913.
War Service
John's Military records are largely missing, and those that exist record only his journey to Egypt and his death. However, the period between his arrival in Egypt and his death is very short, so he was quickly taken on to Gallipoli, and joined the battalion possibly while they were on Pope's Hill.
The battalion history book "The Old Sixteenth" by Capt C. Longmore records how the battalion had been withdrawn from the front lines on Pope's Hill the night before John's death and placed in a gully to the rear known as Rest Camp. However, Turkish snipers over the next 2 days killed or wounded 50 men, John amongst them.
The Drill of the Foot-Hills 1917 Feb - Mar edition listed his name, but gave no detail
Post War
Mother in England received a £2 per fortnight pension until her death on 17 Dec 1917.