John Grugan

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 23/05/2016 - 12:10

First Name:

John

Last Name:

Grugan

Date of Birth:

Saturday, January 2, 1869

Mother's Name:

Margaret Grugan nee Dickson

Father's Name:

James Grugan

Date Enlisted:

Monday, July 10, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

1st Pioneers

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, November 17, 1928

Cause of Death:

War related

Details:

John Grugan (Service No 2861) was born in Wishaw, Scotland. He came to Australia by way of New Zealand bringing a wife, Edith, and child.

At enlistment John stated his age as 44, however he was actually 47 years old at the time. He lived in Wollongong and worked as a miner.

John embarked from Sydney on HMAT A30 Borda with 6th Reinforcements, 1st Pioneer Battalion, on 17th October 1916. He arrived in England on 9th January 1917 and joined the Pioneers in France on 16th May 1917.

He saw service on the Western Front until the 19th September 1917 when he was gassed but not evacuated for treatment.

On 21st January 1919 John was admitted to hospital with influenza and pneumonia.

He did not recover well and was invalided back to Australia in March 1919, and discharged medically unfit with chronic bronchitis and debility on 5th January 1920.

John died in 1928.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, GRUGAN J