John Edward Wonson

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 10/05/2016 - 11:32

First Name:

John

Middle Name:

Edward

Last Name:

Wonson

Date of Birth:

Tuesday, April 22, 1902

Mother's Name:

Rebecca Wonson nee Eagles

Father's Name:

Joseph Wonson

Date Enlisted:

Tuesday, September 18, 1917

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

56th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, February 15, 1980

Place of Death:

Merrylands, N.S.W.

Details:

John Wonson (Service No 3762) was born in Wilton, N.S.W.

On his enlistment papers John stated his age as 19 - he was in fact only 15 years old. He was single, lived at Woonona, N.S.W. and worked as a coal wheeler.

John embarked from Sydney on HMAT A14 Euripides with 10th Reinforcements, 56th Battalion, on 31st October 1917 and arrived in England on 26th December 1917.

John was returned to Australia in April 1918 and on discharged on 17th June as underage and as having provided false information on enlistment.

In 1920 he married Clarice Maher-Croker at Helensburgh, N.S.W.

In 1955 John married a second time, to Florence Smith.

On 2nd March 1944 he enlisted in the second AIF. John (Service No NX178578) served until he was discharged on 20th December 1945, carrying the rank of Sergeant.

John died at Merrylands in 1980.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, WONSON J E