Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

John Sydney FARRELL

Personal

Born: 1892

Birthplace: Mount Mercer, Buninyong, Victoria

Parents: John Farrell; Mary Ann Garton

Died: 11 October, 1918

Cause: Died of illness

Place of death: Syria

Burial place: English Hospital Cemetery Grave No. 18, Damascus, Syria

Awards and Honours

  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal
  • 1914-1918 Memorial Plaque

Battalions

19th Reinforcements, 8th Light Horse; Camel Corps; 14tth and 29th Light Horse

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 2762

Enlistment date: 12 January, 1916 Melbourne Town Hall

Age at enlistment: 24 years 1 month

Address at enlistment: Melton Park, Melton, Victoria

Religion: Church of England

Marital Status: Single

Next of kin: Father: John Farrell Snr.

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Weight: 140 pounds
Complexion: Medium
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Black
Distinctive marks: Scars to shin and thumb

Embarkation ship: RMS Magnolia.

Rank: Acting Corporal

War Service Summary

12/01/1916    Enlistsed  04/07/1916    Taken on strength to 19th Reinforcements, 8th Light Horse
12/08/16 - Reported for duty to Mosascar Camp
01/09/16 - Taken on strength to Imperial Camel Corp at Abbassia, Egypt
20/01/1918 - Promoted to Lance Corporal
01/07/1918 - 14th Light Horse in Surafend, Palestine 27/07/1918   To El Arish, Sinai peninsula, to attend Scouts Course; 94% achieved
18/08/1918 - Rejoined unit
03/10/1918 - To Hospital with Pyrexia
11/10/1918 Admitted to the English Hospital, Damascus,Died in hospital
12/10/1918 - Buried English Hospital Cemetery,
Damascus, Grave No. 18

24/11/1919 - Package returned to father ex Delta contained: rabbit skin, shirt. Family ask where other belonging may be and provide an extensive list. They are told further packages may arrive.
Package returned to father ex Port Darwin contained: 1 tin Hypo, I book Doreen, 1 printing frames, 2 magazines, 1 tobacco pouch, 1 cigarette case, 2 pipes, 1 badge, 1 souvenir, 2 wallets containing letters postcards, 2 regulation colours

War Service Commemerated

Killed in action.

Date:

Died of illness (pyrexia) in Syria

Additional Information

Melton Express

Saturday 27 May 1916 , P 2

 

A large assemblage took place on Saturday night last, when our volunteers were on a visit home, although the notice was very short. Watches were presented to Privates Harold Black, Edward Carew, Ernest Minns, Percy Stubbs, William Stone (who has been to the Front, and returned ill) Henry Sawyer, George Ware, Private John Farrell (who already had a wristlet watch) was presented with an auto-strop razor and a pipe. Musical items were rendered by Mrs. J. H. Allen, Misses D. Farrell, and A. Riddell, Messrs. H. Cunningham, G. Jongebloed and Murison. Miss Ross (a visitor front Melbourne) supplied the dance music. The Committee intend presenting a wristlet watch (or its equivalent) to every volunteer from the Shire, including those who have gone away. The latter will be handed over to the relatives.

 

Melton Express

Saturday 7 September 1918, P 2

TOOLERN VALE.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDRNT.)

Planting the Honor Avenue took place in the Toolern Park on Saturday last. The scheme adopted involved two concave semi-circles, facing the road, the converging points being 16ft. apart. Between these two points it is intended to erect the Honor Tablet, when the design has been approved; two specially selected shrubs were planted at this point, known as Thuja Doniana, a new and very handsome type of evergreen. The rest of the trees are golden cypresses. The line of the semi-circles was arranged well in advance of the cypress hedge (which was planted three years ago) and forms a background to the whole plantation. The blend of coloring from the golden-tinted trees against the dark green hedge will give a very fine effect in a few years time. The planting was carried, out under supervision and the trees well watered and thoroughly mulched to preserve the moisture on account of the lateness of the season for planting.

 

The list of those who enlisted from the North Riding contains 20 names and a corresponding number of trees were planted. Precedence was given in the order of planting to those who have made the supreme sacrifice. The list is as follows:-

R. J. Wynne, A. Cameron, H. Foster, W. G. Hogg, A. G. Tedcastle,  E. Cameron, N. Cameron, J. Clarke, J. S. Farrell, O. Jurd, A. Lachmund, S. J. T. McCorkell, R. J. MacPherson, A. P. Missen, G. A. G. Smith,  G. Snowden, R. Gault, D. Cameron,

J. H. Bartrop, R. Bartrop. …..


Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Newspaper accounts