John Jenkins Townson

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 01/04/2017 - 15:10

First Name:

John

Middle Name:

Jenkins

Last Name:

Townson

Mother's Name:

Ellen Louisa Townson nee Trezise

Father's Name:

John Townson

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, November 20, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

45th & 47th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, October 12, 1917

Place of Death:

Belgium

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

John Townson (Service No 5200) was born in Reedy Creek, Victoria in 1881. In 1909 he married Emily Gallagher and their daughter was born in September 1910.

Enlisting in Cairns, Qld, John was a widow and employed as a clerk. John nominated his 5 year old daughter, who lived in Wollongong, N.S.W. as his next-of-kin.

John embarked from Sydney on HMAT A16 Star of Victoria with 15th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement on 31st March 1916. After arriving in Egypt, John was transferred to 47th Battalion on 5th May 1916.

He arrived in France on 14th June 1916 and served as a Corporal at the depot in France. He later reverted to Private and joined 45th Battalion in Belgium on 31st July 1917.

John was killed in action on 12th October 1917 and has no known grave.

John is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.

John's brother Lieutenant Harold Townson also served.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, TOWNSON JOHN JENKINS