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John Thomas Madgwick

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John Thomas Madgwick
Madgwick John Thomas.jpg
Madgwick John Thomas 1.jpg
Personal Information
Date of Birth 27 Jan 1893
Place of Birth Putney, England
Death 30 Dec 1973, aged 80
Place of Death Greenmount, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 47 years, 4 months
Description 5'8½" (1.74m) tall ; ; medium complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair ; tattoo both arms.
Occupation Labourer
Religion Church of England
Address Armitage road, Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin Wife , Mrs. Vera Helen Madgwick
Military Information
Reg Number W243506
Date of Enlistment 21 Jun 1940
Rank Corporal
Unit/Formation 5th Australian Lines of Communication Provost Company
Post War Details
Fate Remained in Australia
Medals 1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45



Pre War

During WW1 and beyond (total 7 years) John served as a Private with the Royal Sussex Regiment, a part of the Rifles Brigade under a variety of numbers - 1522; 1074; 559807; and 204339. Entered France on 8 Aug 1915.


On 21 Feb 1921, John had married Vera Ellen Wood (1901 - 1975) in St Peters Church, Hampstead, London. As a 31 year old farm labourer, John emigrated aboard the P & O ship SS Barrabool (13,148 tons) which left London on 17 Jul 1924, and arrived in Fremantle on 26 Aug 1924. Vera and their first born Edith Lillian arrived in Fremantle from London on the SS Beltana on 5 Aug 1925.


Electoral Roll entries: 1925 - 1931 at Group 69 Karridale, settler; 1936 - 1937 at 65 Willis street, Victoria Park, labourer; 1943 River road, Kelmscott, labourer. Daughter Pauline Elizabeth (1926 - 1942) aged 16, died in Kelmscott on 14 Dec 1942.

War Service

On 21 Jun 1940 John enlisted in the CMF and on 30 Oct 1940 he was posted to 11th Internment Camp Guard Company The unit changed its name several times, finally adopting 'M' Australian Garrison Company (Internment Camp) on 22 Mar 1941. With Japan's entry into the war all internees were moved to the eastern states during 1942. John was promoted Lance Sergeant on 2 Sep 1942 and soon after from 28 Nov until 7 Dec 1942 he was detached to the Kalgoorlie Detention centre.


On 10 Dec 1942 John was transferred to the 5th Australian Lines of Communication Provost Company and was posted to the Parkeston POW Camp. Soon after from 16 Dec 1942 to 6 Jan 1943 he attended a School at Melville Camp. On 26 Jun 1945 John was reclassified medically and thus on 20 Oct 1945 he was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot for discharge on 23 Oct 1945.

Post War

A second daughter Yvonne Anne (1938 - 1949) died in Kelmscott on 2 Apr 1949 aged 11, and a third, Jeannette Valerie (1944 - 1957) died in Kelmscott on 2 Feb 1957 aged 13. Edith Lillian (1922 - 1988) and Kenneth (1931 - 2007). Ken spent more than 8 months in hospital around the time of his 21st birthday.


Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1958 Railway terrace, Kelmscott, labourer; 1968 - 1972 at Coongan avenue, Greenmount, retired.

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