John Feast

John Feast

courtesy Rebekah Terry
Personal Information
Date of Birth	25 Oct 1876
Place of Birth	Geraldton, Western Australia
Death	13 Jul 1941, aged 64
Place of Death	Mundijong, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	40 years, 10 months
Description	5'9" (1.75m) tall ; 144lbs 65.317 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair ; Thumb on right hand missing
Occupation	Labourer
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Mardella, South West Railway line, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs. Mary A. Feast
Military Information
Reg Number	3098
Date of Enlistment	21 Aug 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	5th Pioneer Battalion, 7th reinforcement / 5th Division
Date of Embarkation	9 Nov 1916 ‒ 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire Fremantle to
Date of Return	4 May 1917 ‒ 26 Jun 1917
Ship Returned On	HMAT A54 Runic Devonport to Fremanlte
Fate	Returned to Australia - medical
Monument	Mundijong Honour Roll Serpentine Roll of Honour ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	British War Medal

Pre War

Note on file to effect that he should never have been enlisted given he had lost his thumb in 1902 during a mill accident in Jarrahdale.

Electoral roll entries - 1903 a labourer on the Harvey Main Drain; 1906 labourer at Keysbrook; 1909 - 1910 a teamster at Mornington; 1912 - 1917 a horse driver at Whittaker's Mill.

War Service

On entering Blackboy Hill camp, John was initially allocated to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 48th Battalion, and then to the 8th draft for the 51st Battalions before on 23 Sep 1916 when he was deemed more suitable for as a Pioneer reinforcement, and was allocated to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 5th Pioneer Battalion.

Travelled to England aboard HMAT A8 Argyllshire, and was sent to the Pioneer Training Battalion at Larkhill for training. Here a Medical Board on 5 Feb 1917 classified him as 'C3'. On 5 Mar 1917 his missing thumb on his right hand became an issue and he was sent to No. 2 Command Depot in Weymouth for return to Australia for 'Home Service'. On his return to Australia he was sent to the 8th Australian General Hospital in Fremantle from 26-27 Jun 1917 for assessment.

Discharged at 5th Military District on 13 Jul 1917.

Post War

On 24 May 1922 John married Rose Buckland (b.1899). Children were Norman (21 Aug 1922 - 2006), Gwendoline R (1924), Ronald (1928), Violet J (1930), Albert (1932 - 1953), John, Leslie (1935 died during birth), Pauline Margaret, Thelma, and Gordon. Rose died 23 Apr 1972 aged 72.

Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1926 a horse driver at No.2 Railway Mill Dwellingup; 1931 at Cockram street, Mundijong teamster; 1936 No.2 State Mill, horse driver; 1937 labourer in Mundijong.

Notes

No thumb on his right hand at time of enlistment having lost it in a circular saw accident in about 1902.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial