John Edmond Rhodes
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known 1892 |
| Place of Birth | Chidlow's Well, Western Australia |
| Death | 3 Jan 1973 |
| Place of Death | Rockingham, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 23 years, 7 months |
| Description |
5'5" (1.65m) tall ; 118 lbs 53.524 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Farm hand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Mundijong, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Frederick Rhodes |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 6569 |
| Date of Enlistment | 14 Apr 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 16th Battalion, 21st Reinforcement / 4th Brigade, 4th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 13 Oct 1916 ‒ 1 Dec 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A39 Port Macquarie |
| Date of Return | 19 Apr 1919 ‒ 31 May 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A74 Marathon |
| Fate |
POW 11 Apr 1917 First Bullecourt Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Mundijong School Roll of Honour Mundijong Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
John entered Blackboy Hill camp on 14 Apr 1916, and less than 3 weeks later he was transferred to the 21st reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. After more than 5 months training, the draft travelled to England from Fremantle aboard HMAT A39 Port Macquarie disembarking in Portsmouth on 12 Dec 1916. John and others were then sent to the 4th Training Battalion at Codford to complete their training. On 4 Jan 1917 John was admitted to the local Codford General Hospital, time and ailment not included in his records. On 8 Feb 1917 John proceeded overseas to France via Folkestone aboard HMT Princess Victoria, and on the 13th he was taken on strength by the 16th Battalion who at that time were acting as the Corps duty unit while re-organising at Albury Camp near Bazentin south east of Poziéres.
On 11 Apr 1917 the 16th Battalion took part in the 1st Battle for Bullecourt. Let down by tanks and artillery, the infantry soldiers captured some of their objectives before they were repelled by a strong German counter attack. Over a thousand men were cut of from their fellows, and after most of them had run out of ammunition, they had little option but to surrender. John was captured near Reincourt. Initially they received very harsh treatment from rear echelon German troops, especially in Lille where they spend several days imprisoned with out food and in appallingly cramped cells. After being used to carry out labour tasks near the front lines for a month, most were sent off to camps in Germany or Prussia. John was interned at Limburg camp north west of Frankfurt, Germany. [1].
Repatriated through Rippon in northern England on 11 Jan 1919, he was granted leave from 13 Jan to 14 Feb 1919. Returning late he was charged with being AWOL from 10:00am 14 Feb till 10:00am 17 Feb 1919. Penalty was the forfeiture of 6 day's pay, before being sent on leave again until 11 Mar 1919. On his return to Australia John was discharged by the 5th Military District on 11 Jul 1919.
Mr. F. Rhodes, Mundijong was notified that his only son, Private J.E. Rhodes, is missing since April 11.[2]
Post War
In 1923 John married Grace Myrtle Lynes. Grace died in 1966 while they were still living in Mundijong.
RHODES.-On June 6, at Nurse Lloyd's Private Hospital, Subiaco, to Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Rhodes, of Mundijong-a daughter. (Alice Doreen). Mother and child well.[3]
Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1958 Mundijong, farm labourer; 1968 - 1972 retired at 109 Parkin street, Rockingham.
Notes
Mr. F. Rhodes, Mundijong was notified that his only son, Private J.E. Rhodes, is missing since April 11.[4]
- ↑ "Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - John Edmond Rhodes". Australian War Memorial. 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ↑ South West Advertiser 25 May 1917
- ↑ Western Mail 12 Jun 1924 p.2
- ↑ South West Advertiser 25 May 1917