John Charles Hutchinson
From Our Contribution
 Unconfirmed from 11th Bn Cheops photo | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known 1888 |
| Place of Birth | Stockton on Tees, Durham, England |
| Death | 8 Nov 1969, aged 83 |
| Place of Death | Mount Lawley, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 27 years old |
| Description |
6' (1.83m) tall ; 156 lbs 70.76 kg ; medium complexion ; grey eyes ; dark brown hair |
| Occupation | Civil servant |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | , Mrs Amy Gargett |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 787 |
| Date of Enlistment | 30 Aug 1914 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 11th Battalion, D Coy / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 2 Nov 1914 ‒ 6 Dec 1914 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A11 Ascanius |
| Date of Return | 31 Oct 1915 ‒ 26 Nov 1915 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A60 Aeneas |
| Fate | Wounded in Action 25 Apr 1915, Anzac Cove |
| Monument |
Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1910 Fitzgerald street, Northam, clerk, 1912 a bookkeeper; 1916 in Hampton street, Northam
War Service
An original member of the 11th Battalion, he would have joined then within days of his enlistment on 30 Aug 1914. Following training at Blackboy Hill camp he was one of those that boarded HMAT A11 Ascanius for, as it was to turn out, Egypt where they disembarked on 6 December. They were sent to a canvas city that was rising from the sand between Cairo and the pyramids, known as Mena. There John was AWOL from 11:00pm 26 Feb 1915 till 8:30am on 27 Feb 1915. Found guilty he was admonished and 1 day's pay was forfeited. On 2 Mar 1915 he boarded HMAT A23 Suffolk in Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the Gallipoli Peninsula. As a member of the 'covering force' tasked with securing an area to allow further troop landings, he was wounded in action during the first day of the landing.
Admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 26 Apr 1915 with a gun shot wound to his left leg received on 25 Apr 1915. Evacuated to Alexandria, he was admitted to the Egyptian Government Hospital in Alexandria on 1 May 1915 with a severe gun shot wound to his leg. He was released to the Convalescent Depot at Mustapha on 20 May 1915, and discharged to duty on 5 Jun 1915. On 8 Jun 1915 he embarked on the HMT Cardiganshire to rejoin the MEF at Gallipoli, rejoining the 11th Battalion on 13 Jun 1915. On 19 Aug 1915 he was seen by the 2nd Field Ambulance and then the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station before being evacuated to Mudros. Next he was sent on to Alexandria aboard HMAT A38 Ulysses which was then acting as a Hospital Ship, and admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital where on 25 Aug 1915 he was diagnosed with exhaustion (heart trouble). John was transferred on 7 Sep 1915 to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Heliopolis where he appears to have remained until he was embarked for home on 30 Oct 1915. He had been returned to Australia for 6 months 'change'. However he was then discharged by the 5th Military District on 12 Jul 1916.
John was granted a partial pension of 30/- per fortnight from 13 Jul 1916.
Post War
John married Hester McIntyre (1883 - 1960) during 1918. A son John Duncan was born 1920, and died 1982.
Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1931 90 Lyall street, Kalgoorlie, managing clerk with Hester; 1954 a civil servant at 78 Archdeacon street, Nedlands. On 29 Mar 1967 John applied for his Gallipoli Commemorative Medallion from 3610 Pearson Place, The Narrows, Darwin, Northern Territory.
In 1962 there is an entry on a shipping List for the SS Southern Cross sailing from Southampton to Fremantle, giving 42 Pearse street, Cottesloe as John's address. However, his application for the Gallipoli Medal on 29 Mar 1967 gives his address as 3610 Pearson Place, The Narrows, Darwin, Northern Territory.
Notes