John Wells

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 20/11/2015 - 09:11

First Name:

John

Last Name:

Wells

Date of Birth:

Sunday, October 2, 1887

Mother's Name:

Hannah Wells (nee Wilmott)

Father's Name:

Phoenix Wells

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, August 20, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Sergeant

Unit:

6th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, October 4, 1917

Place of Death:

Polygon Wood, Belgium

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

John Wells (Service Numbers 335 & 2186) was born in Gerringong, N.S.W.

When John enlisted he was single, 26 years old, and worked as a farmhand.

He embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A24 Benalla with Divisional Train, No 1 Company, on 19th October 1914. The troops arrived in Egypt in December 1914 and John was transferred to the 6th Battalion, D Company, on 23rd January 1915.

He arrived on Gallipoli on 25th April and served there until wounded while fighting on 26th July 1915. He was evacuated to hospital at Mudros, on the Greek island of Lemnos, for treatment of a gun shot wound to the thigh. John returned to Gallipoli on 19th August 1915 and remained until the evacuation.

Back in Egypt he was promoted to Corporal on 23rd February 1916 and sent to France. He arrived on 2nd April 1916, and on 13th April was further promoted to Sergeant.

John was wounded in action on 26th July 1916, and evacuated to hospital in England on 29th July suffering from shell shock and deafness. He returned to 6th Battalion in France on 12th June 1917.

On 4th October, 1917, John was killed in action in the vicinity of Polygon Wood when he was hit by a shell fragment, dying soon after.

There is no known grave for John; his service is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.

John's brother, Edward (Service No 268) also served.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, WELLS JOHN