John James Thorpe
From Our Contribution
 "Bloody Lucky" by Jack Thorpe OAM page 3 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 15 Nov 1897 |
| Place of Birth | Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Death | 5 Jan 1960 |
| Place of Death | Bassendean, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 18 Years old |
| Description |
5'10½" (1.79m) tall ; 142 lbs 64.41 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; dark hair |
| Occupation | Teamster |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Mardella via Mundijong, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Edward Thorpe |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number |
4306 & 1162 W15697 |
| Date of Enlistment | 1 Sep 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation |
1st tour - 11th Battalion, 13th Reinforcement B Company / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division 2nd tour - 2nd Australian Light Railway Operating Company |
| Date of Embarkation | 17 Jan 1916 ‒ 9 Feb 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A30 Borda to Suez (first enlistment) |
| Date of Embarkation | 24 Nov 1917 ‒ 21 Dec 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | SS Canberra to Suez (second enlistment) |
| Date of Return | 9 Sep 1916 ‒ 13 Oct 1916 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A61 Kanowna (first return) |
| Date of Return | 10 Dec 1918 ‒ 31 Jan 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Somali (second return) |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 22/24 Jul 1916 Poziéres Returned to Australia (twice) |
| Monument |
Mundijong School Roll of Honour Mundijong Honour Roll Serpentine Roll of Honour ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Seven weeks after beginning his training in Australia, John was allocated to the 13th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion. He arrived in Port Suez in time to join the troops embarking for France. On 29 Mar 1916 he boarded the HMT Transylvania for Marseilles, arriving there on 4 Apr 1916.
Not yet allocated to a unit, he was sent to the Base Depot in Étaples where he caught mumps, and was hospitalised in the 7th General Hospital at St Omer from 1 May 1916. He rejoined the base depot on 24 May 1916 and was then sent to the 11th Battalion where he was allocated to B Company. Wounded in Action with a shrapnel wound to his right arm, neck, knee, leg, and foot (right heel shattered) during fighting at Pozieres 22/24 Jul 1916. On the 24th he was seen by 1st Field Ambulance before being passed to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station, and then the 8th Red Cross Hospital at Le Touquet on 26 Jul 1916. Evacuated to England from Calais on HMHS Dieppe, he was treated at the Bradford War Hospital, before being released to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield on 24 Aug 1916.
On 9 Sep 1916 he boarded HMAT A61 Kanowna for return to Australia where he was discharged by the 5th Military District on 22 Mar 1917, with a pension of 30/- a fortnight. Between visits to the war, John spent time in the West Australian Government Railways as an engine cleaner.
He entered camp in Western Australia for a second time on 29 Oct 1917, and having qualified as a Fireman, on 22 Nov 1917 he was allocated to General Reinforcements, Railway Companies. John returned to the UK on 30 Jan 1918, where he entered Longmoor camp for training before posting to France. On 20 Mar 1918 John proceeded to France via Folkestone where on 28 Mar 1918 he was taken on strength of the 2nd Australian Light Railway Operating Company. During Sep 1918 he was detached for a fortnight to the 5th NX Light Rail Operating Company
On 10 Oct 1918 he reported to hospital with bronchitis and on 21 Oct was evacuated to England aboard the HS Princesse Elisabeth. Admitted to the Central Military Hospital Clapham on 21 Oct, he was released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 1 Nov 1918 and remained with them until 25 Nov 1918. Sent home early with chronic bronchitis, he was discharged at 5th Military District on 20 Feb 1919.
Post War
Nov 1920 married Monica Glory Spencer. Children were Jack (2nd AIF POW), June (AWAS WW2), Norma and Ron (RAN during WW2). Divorced while living in Armadale. Monica remarried in 1935 to Albert Haseldine.
1934 married Sara Helen George Hughes (d.9 Sep 2004 in Maylands aged 97). Daughter Zoe who lives in the USA.
Electoral Roll entries - 1919 -1924 "Pozières", Serpentine road, East Rockingham (Current Kwinana Golf Course); 1924 Jarrahdale bus proprietor; 1930 - 1938 Armadale, bus proprietor; 1938 Three Springs Hotel, hotel proprietor; 1939 - 1945 served as 290364 Flight Lieutenant (Instructor) with RAAF at Laverton RAAF Base; 1946 Three Springs; 1954 - 1958 businessman at 75 North road, Bassendean. In 1963 Sarah was at Flat 21, 48 Mount street, teacher; 1968 she was at 7 Daylesford road, Bassendean; 1972 at 4/9 Parker street, South Perth; 1977 - 1980 at 1314 Tranby-on-Swan, Maylands.
Notes
For a number of years John ran the Armadale Bus service until bought out by the Metropolitan Transport Trust.
During WW2, John served in the RAAF as a flying instructor, and at time of his discharge he was a Squadron Leader. His son John Roy (Jack) Thorpe OAM served with the 2nd AIF and was captured by the Japanese, but lived to tell the tale in his book The life story of just an ordinary bloke who says he was 'Bloody lucky'[1]. He also served with the Occupying Force in Japan and later in Korea with the 3rd Battalion RAR.
References
- ↑ Thorpe, Jack (2006). The life story of just an ordinary bloke who says he was 'Bloody lucky'. Victoria Park, W.A.: Hesperian Press. ISBN 0859053814.