Bolt, John William

1906 Private John William Bolt - 28th Battalion

John William Bolt was born in Fremantle WA in 1891 to Hannah and Edward Bolt. He had three elder siblings, Edward (born 1884), Benjamin (1886)  and Helen (1889).

He was educated at Fremantle Boys School and grew up in the Fremantle region. However the family went to England for a short time but they then returned to Fremantle. The family lived at 55 Arundel Street Fremantle.

After leaving school, John took up work with JW Bateman and Son but then secured work with the WA Government Railways where he held the position of fireman.

On the 25th June 1915, John offered his services to the AIF and was accepted as fit. The medical examiner recorded John's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 Feet 8 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 146lbs;

Chest Measurement - 38-40 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Dark

Distinctive Marks - scar over right eye

Religious Denomination - Church of England.

After his successful enlistment John was immediately assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion who were training at Blackboy Hill Camp. He had several weeks of training here and on the 2nd September 1915. John and his reinforcement group boarded the HMAT Anchises in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for service overseas.

After a short time in Egypt, John was immediately sent on to the Gallipoli peninsula and he was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 12th October 1915.

He survived the remainder of the Gallipoli campaign and left with his battalion when they evacuated the Anzac battlefield.

The 28th Battalion returned to Egypt and after a few months of training, left in March 1916 to proceed to France.

The 28th Battalion was among the first Australian units to arrive in France and they had their first taste of Western Front trench life around the Armentieres sector. 

In July 1916, the 28th Battalion and the 2nd Division headed south for the Somme battlefield. The relieved the 1st Australian Division who had captured Pozieres. On the 29th July 1916, the 28th Battalion took part in an advance to capture the German lines called OG1 and OG2. Unfortunately the ground they advanced over was elevated and the Germans poured machine gun fire and artillery into the advancing Western Australians. Casualties were immense and John was badly wounded when he was hit in the face by either bullets of shrapnel.

He managed to get himself back to medical aid and was then sent for treatment to the 26th General Hospital at Etaples France. From there he was transferred to No.3 Stationary Hospital. As his wound was serious, John was evacuated across the English Channel to hospital in England.

On the 5th August 1916 he was admitted to No.2 London General Hospital. He remained here for several weeks receiving treatment and on the 17th October 1916 was transferred to No.3 Auxiliary Hospital. Jack had a few more weeks here receiving treatment to his face and eyes and it was decided that he would not be able to return to his unit due to the damage done to his left eye.

On the 6th November 1916 Jack was sent to No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth Camp. John remained at this camp for the next few months while he awaited a ship to take him home. During this time he was able to take some leave to see the sights of England.

On the 8th April 1917 Jack embarked aboard the Hospital Ship Barambah for the journey back to Fremantle.

After his return home Jack went into No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a full medical evaluation and was discharged from the AIF on the 6th September 1917.

After being discharged, and due to his injuries, including losing the sight of his left eye,  John was granted a fortnightly pension of 45/-. 

He returned home to Arundel Street and John's service entitles him to the 1914/15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal and he claimed all three medals.

John resumed employment with the Locomotive department of the WA Government Railways. He also resumed service with the St John's Ambulance Railway division.

In 1924 John married Emme Muller in Cottesloe Beach.

John Bolt died on the 7th August 1936. Among the obituaries and notices of the time was one in the West Australian, which stated that; 

"Mr Bolt possessed a good tenor voice, and was for some time attached to the Masquerader Company of singers. He was of bright and cheerful disposition and popular. A wife and young family of two sons and two daughters are left to mourn their loss."

There were many attendees at the funeral service at Fremantle Cemetery including the Fremantle Mayor Mr. F.E. Gibson and several councilors. There were also many of Jack's work mates and army friends in attendance. The bugler played the last post at the conclusion of the service.