CHRISTMAS, John Frater
| Service Number: | 852 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 March 1915, Claremont, Tasmania |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 21 December 1889 |
| Home Town: | Launceston, Launceston, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Glen Dhu State School, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Electrician |
| Died: | GSW - head, Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, England, United Kingdom, 30 August 1916, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Netley Military Cemetery, Hampshire, England Grave CE 1843, Netley Military Cemetery, Netley, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Launceston Cenotaph |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Claremont, Tasmania | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 1915: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 852, 26th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' |
|
| 29 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 852, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Brisbane | |
| 4 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 852, 26th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 30 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 852, 7th Machine Gun Company, Battle for Pozières |
Help us honour John Frater Christmas's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK
Died on this date - 30th August.....Private John Frater (Jack) Christmas was born at Launceston, Tasmania in 1889. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 25th March, 1915 as a 25 year old Electrician from Launceston, Tasmania.
Private John Frater Christmas embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on HMAT Aeneas (A60) on 29th June, 1915 with the 7th Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Battalion, “C” Company”. He embarked from Alexandria on 4th September, 1915 for Gallipoli.
Private Christmas was admitted to 13th Casualty Clearing Station on 19th October, 1915 at Gallipoli Peninsula. He was sent to Hospital in Malta with Dysentery. He recovered & rejoined his Battalion on 21st February, 1916.
Private Christmas arrived in France on 21st March, 1916. He was temporarily attached to 7th Brigade Machine Gun Company in France on 16th April, 1916.
Private Christmas was wounded in action in France in 5th August, 1916. He was invalided to England on Hospital Ship Marama with GSW to head & admitted to Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, England on 25th August, 1916 dangerously ill.
Private John Frater Christmas died on 30th August, 1916 at Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, England from wounds received in action in France – gunshot wounds to head. He was buried in Netley Military Cemetery, Hampshire, England where 49 other WW1 Australian Soldiers are buried.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/a---j.html
Biography
John Frater CHRISTMAS was born on 21st December, 1889 in Launceston, Tasmania
His parents were Henry Rothwell CHRISTMAS and Jane Annie STEWART
He enlisted with the Australian Army on 26th March, 1915 - he was a Private with the 26th Battalion, C Company - Unit embarked from Brisbane on board HMAT Aeneas on 29th June 1915
He was wounded at the Somme on 05 Aug 1916, and transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, where he subsequently died on 30th August, 1916 from complications of the gunshot wound to his head.
John is buried in the Military cemetery in Netley, UK and is also commemorated on the Australian War Memorial
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal & the Victory Medal
His brother 1964 Dvr. Thomas Renshaw CHRISTMAS (/explore/people/260269) also served in WW1 and returned to Australia in 1919
Click images to start slideshow.