John James Emery
From Our Contribution
 Western Mail 18 Jun 1915 | |
 Drill of The Foot-Hills 1917 Feb-Mar edition | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1889 |
| Place of Birth | Edmonton, Middlesex, England |
| Death | 1 May 1915 |
| Place of Death | Gallipoli, Turkey |
| Age at Enlistment | 25 years, 8 months |
| Description |
7¾" (1.72m) tall ; 137 lbs 62.142 kg ; fair complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | Brickworker |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Beenup, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Eliza Emery (in the UK) |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 1466 |
| Date of Enlistment | 19 Nov 1914 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 16th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement /4th Brigade, 2nd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 22 Feb 1915 ‒ 24 Mar 1915 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A50 Itonus Fremantle to Port Suez |
| Fate | Killed in Action 1 May 1915 Quin's Post?? Gallipoli |
| Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel) Lone Pine Memorial Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Aged 21 when he arrived in Australia. Before working locally the Electoral Rolls suggest that John was in Boya working as a quarryman in 1913.
War Service
John's Military records are largely missing, and those that exist record only his journey to Egypt and his death. However, the period between his arrival in Egypt and his death is very short. When the battalion history book "The Old Sixteenth" by Capt C. Longmore is compared with the scant records available it reveals that John proceeded from Heliopolis to Alexandria by rail early on 11 Apr 1915, arriving there in the morning and boarding HMT Haida Pascha, a German prize ship captured at the commencement of the war.
The ship weighed anchor at 4:10pm on 12 Apr 1915 and sailed for Mudros Harbour on Lemnos Island where it arrived at 6:30pm on 15 Apr 1915. The first and second reinforcements had sailed with the main battalion. The next few days were spent practicing landing from ships, until around noon on 25 Apr 1915 the "Haida Pascha" sailed for the coat of Gallipoli, arriving soon after 4:00pm. John's records don't reveal when he was taken on strength by the 16th Battalion, but it would have occurred prior to their time on Pope's Hill.
Longmore records how the battalion had been withdrawn from the front lines on Pope's Hill the night before John's death and placed in a gully to the rear known as Rest Camp. However, Turkish snipers over the next 2 days killed or wounded 50 men, John seemingly amongst them.
The Drill of the Foot-Hills 1917 Feb - Mar edition listed his name, but gave no detail.
Post War
Mother in England received a £2 per fortnight pension until her death on 17 Dec 1917.
Notes
After John's death his NOK chages to his oldest sister following the death of his mother.
References