John Forbes Souter jnr

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 15/05/2015 - 10:26

First Name:

John

Middle Name:

Forbes

Last Name:

Souter

Mother's Name:

Jessie (nee Coutts)

Father's Name:

John Souter

Date Enlisted:

Monday, December 6, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

1st Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Place of Death:

Wollongong

Details:

Private John Souter jnr (Service no. 5229) was born in Keiraville in 1889 and, like his father, was a miner. At the time of enlistment he was single and 26 years old. John had served four years in the Garrison Artillery militia.

Embarking on SS Makarini with 16th Reinforcements 1st Battalion on 1st April, 1916, John saw service on the Western Front arriving in France on 27th July, 1916. He may have briefly met up with his father around this time but as the 1st Battalion was engaged in heavy fighting they may have missed each other. John attended various schools of instruction and while not wounded he was admitted to hospital with influenza and other trench related illnesses.

On 6th March, 1919 he married Isabella Gray in Scotland. The marriage certificate states they were cousins.

John and Isabella returned to Australia in 1919 and he was discharged from the AIF on 9th February, 1920. They resided in Keiraville and he died in Wollongong in 1965.

John Souter jnr, along with his father, is remembered on the Wollongong Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, SOUTER JOHN FORBES