Acton, John
No.4971 Corporal John Vincent Acton 28th Battalion AIF
John Vincent Acton was born in Gloucester England in 1889 to Joseph and Lee Acton. In the 1901 census he was listed as 12 years old and still living in Gloucestershire with his family. After leaving school he took an interest in military affairs as a member of the Gloucester Yeomanry, serving for 2 years, resigning only due to his voyage to Australia.
After arriving in Australia on the 11th December 1913 John and his wife Minetta took up residence in Fremantle and then Cottesloe. It was thought that during there time in Fremantle they lived in Ellen Street with Thomas Acton. John was working as a Civil Servant during his time in Australia in the Fremantle district. He is also listed as living in the Fremantle district in the 1915/16 electoral rolls.
John enlisted on the 2nd December 1915 and on the 20th December was assessed in Perth as medically fit. He was 26 years & 11 months, 5 feet 4 ½ inches in height; 118 lbs in weight; 32-35 ½ inches of chest measurement; Fresh complexion; Brown Eyes & dark Brown Hair. Under Religion it was stated that he was a non-conformist
Initially assigned to No.39 Depot, John joined up with the 13th reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF on the 3rd April 1916. His reinforcement draft embarked at Fremantle on the Seang Bee 18th July 1916. After spending a few months training in the UK John embarked for France on the 2nd November 1916. Soon after joining the 28th John was made Lance Corporal and Temporary Corporal on the 18th January 1917. He served through 1917 until he was wounded on the 4th October at the Third Battle of Ypres. He was evacuated to hospital but rejoined the 28th in December 1917 where he was soon promoted to Temporary Sergeant. On the 18th March 1918 John reverted to the rank of Corporal on being transferred to the Australian Corps Signal Company. He served with this unit for the remainder of the war.
John left England on the Somali on the 1st June 1919, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919. He was officially discharged from the AIF 22nd August 1919. He didn’t long enjoy the peace as by August 1920 he came down ill and on the 12th August 1920 he died at No.8 AGH in Fremantle, the official cause being Cerebral Tumour & Collapse. He is buried in Fremantle Cemetery Methodist Section Plot BB.135.