John MINNS
Personal
Born: 1875
Birth registration: Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration No. 24613
Birthplace: Melton, Victoria
Parents: George Minns
Ann White
Died: 4 December, 1941
Place of death: St. Andrew's private hospital, Sunshine, Victoria
Burial place: Melton Cemetery, Melton, Victoria
Awards and Honours
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
Battalions
7th Battalion, 13th Reinforcements
Events
Enlistment
Regimental Service Number: 4237
Enlistment date: 17 July, 1915 Broadmeadows, Melbourne
Age at enlistment: 39 years 8 months
Address at enlistment: Melton, Victoria
Religion: Church of England
Marital Status: Single
Next of kin: Sister: Rose Ann Minns, Melton, Victoria
Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 8 inches
Weight: 11 stones
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Fair
Distinctive marks: Vaccination x 1
Embarkation ship: HMAT A64 Demosthenes.
Rank: Private
Return Date: 8 August, 1916
Return Vessel: HT Marathon.
War Service Summary
29/12/1915 - Embarked per HMAT A64 Demosthenes
10/02/1916 - Admitted to hospital, rheumatism; Heliopolis
29/02/1916 - Cairo
11/03/1916 - Discharged to Giza from Australian Convalescent Hospital
18/03/1916 - Taken on strength; Serapeum
26/03/1918 - Embarked to join British Expeditionary Forces; Alexandria
31/03/1918 - Disembarked Marseilles
12/05/1916 - To hospital sick; France; haemorrhoids
18/06/1918 - Transferred to England per Aberdouian, ex Calais
19/06/1918 - Admitted 3rd London General Hospital;
haemorrhoids
13/07/1916 - To furlough
08/08/1916 - Embarked H.T. Marathon from Portland for return to Australia and discharge; Paralysis of tight ulna nerve
War Service Commemerated
Life After the War
Unmarried
Place/s of residence:
Melton
1936 Walsingham, Melton
Occupations:
Commission Agent
Date of death:
04/12/1941 - Reg # 12345 at St. Andrew's private hospital, Sunshine.
Place of burial:
Melton Cemetery; after a short service at Christ Church, Melton
Other relevant information:
Australian War Memorial search use name John Minas (not Minns)
Siblings:
George, Walter, Eliza (Mrs Simpson), Annie, Rose, Bessie (Mrs King)
He was a life member of the RSL, a life honorary member of the Royal Agricultural Society, and a member of the Owners and Breeders' Trotting Association.
Additional Information
The Bacchus Marsh Express
7 October, 1916, p.2
Private John Minns, who has been invalided home from the Front, arrived in Melton on Tuesday. He speaks very highly of the arrangements of the Hospital Staffs in both Egypt and England, and says that the Red Cross comforts, both in hospital and on board ship, leave nothing to be desired. Private Minns served in the South African war, under General Plumer, and holds the Queen's medal, with three clasps.
The Bacchus Marsh Express
And
Melton Express
18 August, 1917, P 2
The meeting to form a committee to entertain local soldiers returning from Active Service was held on Monday evening, and there was an unusually large attendance of both ladies and gentlemen Cr. J. F. Minns in the chair. The following committee was appointed:- Rev. F. Stanley Love (President), Mr. Jas. H. Cunningham (Hon. Sec.), Messrs. Wraith, Robinson, J. F. Minns;, Whittington and G. McDonald. It was decided to hold a social on Friday 31st inst., to entertain the, present returned soldiers – Privates J. Minns, R. McPherson, G. Ware, Keating, P. Nolan, M. A. Nolan, Lachmund and Jurd.
The Argus
5 December, 1941, p. 4
MINNS -On December 4, at St. Andrew's Sunshine, John Minns of Melton, brother of George, Walter (deceased), Eliza (Mrs Simpson), Annie, Rose, Bessie (Mrs King, deceased), late A.I.F. and 6th New Zealand Contingent, South Africa aged 66 years.
The Argus
6 December, 1941, p. 4
MINNS.-On December 4 at private hospital, Melbourne, John Minns, of Walsingham, Melton, brother of George, Walter (deceased), Eliza (Mrs Simpson), Annie Rose and Bessie (Mrs King, deceased), late A.I.F. and 6th New Zealand Contingent, South Africa, aged 66 years.
The Argus
8 December, 1941, p. 3
OBITUARY
MR. J. MINNS
Mr John Minns, 66, of Walsingham, Melton, who died on Thursday at St Andrew's private hospital, Sunshine, was a veteran of both the South African War and the last World War. He was in NZ when he enlisted, leaving with the 6th NZ Contingent for South Africa and he service in France with the first AIF. Mr. Minns who was unmarried, conducted a commission agency business. He was an enthusiast in trotting and other sports. He owned Nerve Force with which he won the Australian Trotting Derbv some years ago, and had success with other horses, some of which were his own breeding, He was a committee member of the Owners and Breeders' Association, and he was a life honorary member of the Royal Agricultural and Pastoral Society, also of the RSL. His funeral took place on Friday at Melton Cemetery. Walter A. Warne, of Footscray, made the funeral arrangements.
The Argus
10 December, 1941, p. 2
LATE MR. JOHN MINNS
MELTON. — Mr. John Minns, of Melton, died at a private hospital at Sunshine. The funeral was at the Melton Cemetery, after a short service at Christ Church, Melton. Members of the RSL formed a guard of honour, and a short military service was conducted by Col. Gutteridge, of the 7th Battalion, in which Mr. Minns served in the last war. He served also under Gen. Plumer as a member of the 6th NZ Mounted Rifles. He was a life member of the RSL, the Royal Agricultural Society, and a member of the Owners and Breeders' Trotting Association.
The Argus
16 July, 1942, p. 2
RE JOHN MINNS Deceased - Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1928 notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against the estate of John Minns late of "Walsingham," Melton in the State of Victoria commission agent, deceased (who died on the 4th day of December 1941 and probate of whose will was granted by the Supreme Court of Victoria In Its Probate Jurisdiction, on the 12th day of March 1942 to Rose Ann Minns of "Walsingham," Melton aforesaid spinster and Keith Minns Simpson, of Malop street Geelong in the said State, bank officer) are hereby required to SEND PARTICULARS in writing of such CLAIMS to the said executors, in the care of the said Rose Ann Minns at her above address on or before the 30th day of September, 1942, after which date the said executors will proceed to distribute the assets of the said deceased amongst the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims of which they shall then have had notice and notice is hereby further given that the said executors will not be liable for the assets so distributed or any part thereof to any person of whose claim they shall not have had notice as aforesaid
Dated this 15th day of July 1942
DUGDALE, SIMMONS & STEVENS
Bourke street, Melbourne solicitors for the said executors.
Sources
Service Record
Newspaper Accounts