Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

NOK Albert Allan BLANCHARD (Brother)

John Berryman was born in Adelaide, South Australia, was a blacksmith who lived in a town called Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills. He lived with his brother Alfred Blanchard who was his guardian and gave permission for Berryman to enlist as he was under 21. He lived there until he was 19 years old when he decided to enlist in the war on the 1st of December 1914. At the time, he was single, worked as a Blacksmith and identified his religion as Church of England. He enlisted into the 11th Light Horse Regiment and was selected to be in the C Squadron.

John embarked as a Private. The 11th Light Horse Regiment was reunited in Egypt on 23rd July 1915 and began training as infantry. After a month of training, they went to Gallipoli. John Berryman went in the C Squadron on the 9th of August 1915.

John Berryman was in and out of hospital constantly. First sent to a hospital in Moscar Egypt (4/3/18) he was then transferred to Deir El Belah Egypt for treatment of a medical condition (6/4/18). He spent a month in hospital. He then he got Fibrositis and muscle rheumatism (15/5/18). After all his problems, he went to rest camp and stayed there for two weeks. After that John was sent to a school (either for education purposes or for military training it was not disclosed). John left Egypt from Port Said on the ship Caledonia (1/5/19). Finally, he was given one months leave in London and it’s believed that this is when he deserted to go back to Australia (29/7/19). John was discharged from the army a couple months later (3/11/19).

He was awarded three medals, The British War Medal, The Victory Medal and the 1914-15 Star Medal. The British War Medal was awarded to soldiers if they served at least 28 days. Considering that John was enlisted on the 1st of December 1914 and discharged on the 3rd of November 1919 he had definitely served his time and earned this medal. The 1914-15 Star Medal was granted to military personnel who served between the 5th of August 1914 and the 31st of December 1915. The Victory Medal was given to those who received the 1914-15 Star Medal as it was never given on it own. It was also given to soldiers who were awarded the British War Medal.

John Berryman’s life after the war was filled with family as he had a wife, Sylvia and ten children. Max, Ron, Jean, Melva, Margret, Dorothy, Gwenda, Robert, Ray, and Douglas. There were many to carry on the Berryman name even after John died on the 19th of December 1966 (place, cause, and age of death are unknown). His gravestone was placed at Derrick Gardens Returned Veterans Cemetery. John also has a memorial at Mount Barker Soldiers' Memorial Hospital Roll of Honor. His name will forever be in the memorial at Mount Barker and with his family.

Bibliography:

VWMA

AIF Project

Australian War Memorial (AWM) Advanced Search

Australian War Memorial (AWM) People Search

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51045