S5209 / 28932
BOEHM, John Christian
Service Number: | 2625 |
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Enlisted: | 15 August 1916, Melbourne, Victoria |
Last Rank: | Private |
Last Unit: | 46th Infantry Battalion |
Born: | Natimuk, Victoria, April 1894 |
Home Town: | Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
Occupation: | Fitter/Composer |
Died: | Natural causes, Adelaide, South Australia, 1955 |
Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia |
Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
15 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2625, Melbourne, Victoria | |
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20 Oct 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2625, 46th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: '' | |
20 Oct 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2625, 46th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Lincoln, Melbourne | |
29 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2625, 46th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Lincoln ran aground at Freetown. Troops transferred to various convoys bound for England | |
11 Jan 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2625, 46th Infantry Battalion |
Johann Christian Boehm
Jack, as he was known, enlisted in the 1st AIF twice. He served 58 days before it was discovered he was underage and was discharged, because he could not gain parental concent. His parents, of Prussian heritage, were children of some of the original settlers of Hahndorf (see Boehm Acadamy). Of a somewhat rebellious nature , John, turned 21, gained the endorsement of the local militia as a loyal Australian, re- enlisted and sailed for the UK from Melbourne on the troop ship Port Lincoln.
On board the same ship was his brother, Wilhelm (Bill) who for reasons unknown was listed as William "Beam" on the embarkation document. This was just the start of Jacks misadventures.
The SS Port Lincoln ran aground at Sierra Leone and the on board troops were progressively transported on passing troop convoys heading for Europe. A consummate pianist (he later became a composer) Jack was in his element in the town and was one of the last Pt Lincoln troops to leave this colonial outpost, then known as "the White Man's Graveyard". Despite the town's reputation,Jack seemed to like it, as he wrote there was "plenty of beer".
He found England very much not to his taste. The rations and conditions were terrible and he found himsel AWOL on several occasions. His diary records some of his exploits and his general discontent. Dissatisfaction with the treatment they recieved in England was felt by many of the Aussies, which is a matter of history.
Jack was not a good soldier and even when moved to the front in France his rebellious nature often came forward and he often found himself in trouble. His diary records "went AWOL...again" His brother, Bill had been killed in action and perhaps this greatly affected his attitude.
Somehow, Jack survived France and on returning to England he met and married my Grandmother and together they sailed for Australia. For which I am eternally grateful.
Submitted 26 December 2017 by Peter Lehman