Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of John Henry BARTLETT and Alice Louisa nee HEWETT

Mr. John Vernon Bartlett, also known as Jack, was one of the three sons of John Henry Bartlett and Alice Louisa nee Hewett. His hometown was Parkside, South Australia and, he was born on the 5th of August 1893 in Eastwood, South Australia. He came from a modest background, previously working as a Clerk. John enlisted on the 30th of July 1915. He was an unmarried 21-year-old man with dark hair and hazel eyes, standing at 5'10" and weighing 152lbs, making him fit for active service. Within seven months of his enlistment, he was allotted and proceeded to join the 10th Infantry Battalion at the 7th Training Battalion.

On the 15th of March 1916, he was admitted to a hospital for Pyrexia (commonly referred to as fever) in Serapeum, Egypt. He recovered to join the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) on the 27th of March 1916 in Alexandria and disembarked to Marseille, France on the 3rd of April. Eighteen days later, John joined the 6th ANZAC Base Depot. During this intermission, John remained engaged in battle.

He was hospitalized briefly in Etaples, France on the 1st of July 1916.

After this, he proceeded to move to Rouen on the 26th of July 1916 and rejoined his unit 4 days later after being sick.

He remained in battle until the 8th of November when he was hospitalized at the General Hospital in Rouen secondary to being diagnosed with trench foot on the 6th of August. John was hospitalized again and diagnosed with tuberculosis on the 26th of November.

He was taken on strength and was promoted to Corporal on the 5th of December 1916.

Over the course 1916, John had also been poisoned by gas and had also broken his nose.

On the 20th of August 1917, he was promoted to Sergeant.  He was engaged in battle for 15 months before going on leave on the 13th of October 1917. He had rejoined from leave in Rouen 10 days later. On the 27th of July 1918, John went on leave to Italy from Rouen.

He was promoted to Engineer Staff Sergeant (ER S/Sgt) on the 1st of August 1918 and rejoined from leave on the 11th of August. He then proceeded to Le Havre, France to join the medical board on the 30th of October which resulted in the board diagnosing him with synovitis in his right knee. 

He returned to Australia on the ship Orontes due to his synovitis on the 20th of December 1918.

John Bartlett was discharged on the 13th of April 1919, in the 4th Military District HQ at Keswick Barracks after 4 years and 43 days of service. The reason for discharge declared that he was medically unfit.

After the war, he became a member of the RSL Mitcham sub-branch. His badge number was S12853.

Four months later, John married Gladys Edith Thomas on the 29th of August 1919 in Parkside, South Australia. They had three children: two daughters, Mollie and Pat, and one son, Donald. His son played cricket for Sturt and was also a past member of the RSL Mitcham sub-branch.

One of John's most commendable accomplishments was his work for the blinded soldiers. He formed the Blinded Welfare Club shortly after WWII. He had illustrated and published, a series of booklets which allowed him to raise more than £40,000 to provide homes for almost all blinded soldiers from WWI and WWII. Furthermore, he accompanied Jim Whittle, a blinded ex-comrade to sporting fixtures and RSL meetings each week for 20 years. John was awarded the prestigious OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by His Majesty the King in 1948 for his meaningful contributions. Jim Whittle described the RSL Mitcham sub-branch as 'The house that Jack built'. This truly demonstrates John’s exemplary and charitable involvement in his community.

He had also helped Jim Whittle nominate for a seat in Mitcham Council 1947.

John played cricket and football for Sturt and regularly attended sporting fixtures. He set a record in the 1929-30 season by simultaneously playing for the A-grade side. Further into his life, John was captain of the Mitcham sub-branch electric light cricket team, which he successfully guided twice into the premierships.

Additionally, he was also the manager of the country merchandising department of Elder. Smith and Co.

John had also attended the annual Blinded Soldiers Association social in 1949.

John Vernon Bartlett passed away on the 26th of March 1950, at age 56. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal when serving with the 10th Battalion of the 1st AIF for his notable accomplishments.