Fitzpatrick, John
1807 Gunner John Fitzpatrick - 3rd Field Artillery Brigade
John Fitzpatrick was born in Fremantle WA on the 7th November 1886 to John and Ellen Jarvis. He was one of several children born into the family. He grew up in Fremantle and was educated at Christian Brothers College but in the 1900's the family moved to West Perth.
After leaving school John worked locally as a labourer for a time but then went to the bush for work.
On the 15th August 1914 John enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 4 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 135lbs;
Chest Measurement - 35-37 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Black.
Upon his successful enlistment John was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 8th Battery of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade. He trained with this group until they received their embarkation orders. They then went to Fremantle Harbour and boarded the transport ship HMAT Medic. They boarded the ship on the 31st October and then it lay out at Gage Roads until the 2nd November 1914.
After arriving in Egypt the 8th Battery joined up with the other batteries of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade. After their arrival they took up a hard program of training which continued until late March 1915 when they were getting prepared to leave Alexandria for an unknown destination. Along with the infantry they made their way to Lemnos Island in preparation for a landing on the Turkish coast.
When the landing took place on April 25th 1915, the artillery did not land straight away as due to the rugged terrain not many suitable places could be found to position the Artillery pieces. Gradually the guns of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade were disembarked and pulled to the heights of the 1st ridge where they could support their infantry. The 8th Battery took up position at the south of the Anzac battlefield near what was later known as Shell Green.
Casualties at the Battery were a regular occurrence as the Turkish guns sought out the Australian positions. John survived the entire Gallipoli campaign with out being wounded or evacuated sick.
In January 1916 the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade returned to Egypt and in March 1916 headed for France.
From April to June 1916 the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade were in the Armentieres region of France but in July 1916 moved down t the Somme to support the infantry operations around Pozieres and Mouquet Farm.
On the 28th September 1916 John was evacuated to hospital suffering from influenza and laryngitis. On the 3rd October 1916 he was shipped to England for further treatment.
John's fitness level was now reclassified meaning he was no longer fit enough to serve in France but he was retained in various Depot Camps through 1917.
He returned to France in the new year and was taken back on strength of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade on the 17th January 1918. The unit was then in Belgium and John served until the 21st March 1918. He was evacuated ill with bronchitis and after being sent to the 35th General Hospital at Calais was sent to England where he was admitted to Bath War Hospital.
On the 19th April 1918 John was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital and on the 9th May was transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.
John had been diagnosed with General debility and for health reasons he was to be returned to Australia. On the 17th June 1918 John boarded a transport ship and returned to Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 5th August 1918.
He was discharged from the AIF on the 4th September 1918.
He returned to live in Welshpool and took up work as a bootmaker.
In the 1930's he moved to 184 Mandurah Road South Fremantle
John died on the 11th May 1960. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Roman Catholic MA 0207.