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Howard Street, 17, Fremantle WA 6160

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Fremantle Soldiers, Sailors and Nurses of the Great War

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Foxworthy, John Henry

Captain John Henry Foxworthy - 44th Battalion AIF

John Henry Foxworthy was born in Fremantle WA in 1888 to John and Wilhemina Foxworthy. He had a younger sister Selina born in 1897. The family lived at 37 Howard Street Fremantle (now 17 Howard)

John was educated at Fremantle Boys School and after leaving school he took up an accountancy apprenticeship with PJ Fitzpatrick in Fremantle. This apprenticeship lasted for four years after which John began working as an Incorporated Accountant.

In 1910 John was living at 273 Hampton Road South Fremantle.

John had been awarded a Gold Medal from the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce for his Junior Commercial Examination. He also studied courses from the London Chamber of Commerce for a teachers diploma course. John was then able to get a Teaching license. He also then studied Economics at the University of Western Australia.

John also did a diploma of commerce course with the University of Adelaide, in 1910 he studied Commercial law, Business Practice and Banking. In 1912 he studied Banking. In 1913 he studied Commercial Law and Economics and in 1914 he studied Economics and Geography.

All this study was being done while John was working full time and he was also serving with the 86th Infantry of the Citizen Military Forces. He was an Officer with the 86th Infantry, being appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in 1909, Lieutenant in 1912 and Captain in 1914.

In 1911 John went to Bunbury and had married Annie Elizabeth Baldock, his best man and Groomsmen, being fellow Officers from the 86th Infantry, Lt Stanley Mills, Curlewis and Robson.

It appears John was still working from Fremantle when he enlisted in 1916. His wife had moved to her parents in Bunbury after John enlisted but then returned to Fremantle and set up residence at 'Willoughby' Canning Road East Fremantle.

On the 5th February 1916 John enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording John's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 inches tall;

Weight - 10 stone 6;

Chest Measurement - 36 inches;

Eyesight - Normal.

He was sent to No.44 Depot Camp at Claremont Showgrounds and was then appointed as a Captain and Adjutant to the 44th Battalion AIF.

The 44th Battalion trained for the next few months at Claremont Showgrounds Camp.

The 44th Battalion departed from Fremantle Harbour on the 6th June 1916 aboard the HMAT Suevic. After a long sea voyage the ship arrived at Plymouth on the 21st July 1916.

The next few months were spent training on the Salisbury Plains and in November 1916 the 44th Battalion were sent to France. Initially they were sent to the area around Armentieres undergoing a very cold French winter. On the 23rd December 1916 John was sent to hospital suffering from bronchitis. He was initially sent to the 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and was then sent to the 7th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. It was a severe case of bronchitis as John remained in hospital until the 8th February 1917. He was then sent to a Convalescent House where he had a few more weeks of rest and recuperation. John rejoined the 44th Battalion on the 10th March 1917. When he rejoined them the 44th Battalion had moved to Ploegsteert in southern Belgium.

John was not with his unit for long as on the 25th March 1917 he was transferred to England where he took on the role of Adjutant for the newly forming 70th Battalion AIF. This unit was one of the Battalions of the newly forming 6th Australian Division.

John would have the next few months in England, during which time he also attended a Vickers Machine Gun Course. The time in England for John ended in September 1917. Due to not enough reinforcements coming from Australia, the 6th Division had to be disbanded and the Officers and Men currently serving there were returned to their previous units.

On the 22nd September 1917 John was sent to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverell where he was taken on strength of that unit for the next few months.

John eventually returned to France, being taken on strength of the 44th Battalion on the 14th December 1917.

On his arrival back with the 44th Battalion John was put in charge of "A" Company. From January to March 1918 the 44th Battalion were helping to hold the front line between Ypres and Messines.

As a result of the German offensive that broke through the British front further south, the Australian Divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop this advance.

The 44th Battalion came into contact with the Germans in late March 1918 around Sailly Laurette and Sailly-le-Sec. John's Company advanced until heavy fire from the Germans caused many casualties, but they had also stopped the German advance. The 44th Battalion remained in this sector for the next few months.

On the 17th May 1918 John was evacuated sick with influenza. He was initially hospitalised in France but John was then sent on to England and was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital. He was in England for several weeks, only rejoining the 44th Battalion in France on the 23rd July 1918.

John had missed his units action at Hamel on July 4th 1918 but returned in time to take part in the August 8th advance from Villers-Bretonneux. John served in all the units actions between August 8th and October 1st 1918 and he was in charge of "A" Company during this time.

On October 4th 1918 John returned to England to take part in the organisation of an AIF educational scheme. He then returned to the 44th Battalion on the 31st October 1918.

He was with the unit when the Armistice was announced and then took charge of the 44th Battalion's education scheme. With the Armistice announced on 11th November 1918 it would still be many months before the men would be able to go home, so an education scheme was introduced.

After the German surrender, the Australian units went into what had been German occupied parts of France and Belgium and they would remain there for the next few months.

John had a weeks leave in Paris in February 1919 and then in March requested to return to England to take part in some Non Military Employment. This was approved and John went to England and attended the University of Birmingham where he undertook a Commerce course and also attended the London School of Economics.

John finished this study on the 29th August 1919 and was then assigned a berth on a troopship home. On the 6th September 1919 John boarded the transport ship Berrima and set sail for Australia and disembarked in Fremantle.

On the 10th December 1919 John was discharge from the AIF.

On his return from the war John returned home to Fremantle and then resumed his studies at Adelaide University, studying Industrial Practice and Commercial Law in 1920, Economics and Geography in 1921 and Economics in 1922. After successfully finishing his course John was awarded the Diploma of Commerce in 1923.

John and Annie were living at Canning Road East Fremantle during this time. John was very busy with his accountancy work and also served with the Militia of the Citizen Military Forces. John rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the 44th Battalion AMF.

Through the 1920's and 30's John was an auditor of the finances of both the North Fremantle and Fremantle Municipal Councils

Sadly, on the 14th January 1936, John died at home in 209 Canning Rd (Now 6 Allen St) East Fremantle aged just 47. He was given a military funeral, with the service at St John's Church Fremantle and the burial at Fremantle Cemetery. The West Australian newspaper on the 17th January 1936 reported;

A MILITARY FUNERAL

The Late Lieut-Col. Foxworthy.

In the presence of a large number of former army colleagues, business associates and other friends, the late Lieut-Colonel J. H. Foxworthy, VD., JP. who until December 31 last was commanding officer of the 44th Battalion, A.M.F., was buried with military honours in the Church of England portion of the Fremantle cemetery yesterday. The ceremony was preceded by a full choral service at St. John's Church, Fremantle, conducted by. the senior chaplain (the Ven. Archdeacon C. L. Riley), assisted by the Rev. Canon E. M. Collick. A large congregation, including many military officers, filled the church.

At a point about half a mile from the cemetery gates the cortege was stopped and the coffin was transferred to a gun carriage. From this point the procession, which assembled under the direction of Captain R. G. Pollard, Adjutant of the 44th Battalion, was headed by an escort, comprising members of the 44th Battalion, A.M.F., under the command

of Captain J. P. Cox. Then followed a firing party, consisting of one sergeant, one corporal, one bugler and 12 gunners, from the Royal Australian Artillery, after which came the 44th Battalion regimental band. Archdeacon Riley preceded the gun carriage, which was manned by personnel of the Guildford Remount Depot, with the deceased's head dress, sword and medals on the coffin. It was followed by his charger, his riding boots reversed in the stirrups, and a wreath-laden vehicle and the mourning coach. After these came the chief military mourners, including the District Commandant (Brigadier P. M. McFarlane), Lieut.-General Sir J. Talbot Hobbs, Colonel C. H. E. Manning, Colonel I. E. Dunkley, Captain K. A. Hall and Lieut-Commander N. H. Shaw. Then came mourners in uniform, consisting of representatives of AIF. and all AMF. units in this State, and mourners not in uniform, consisting of members of AIF units.
At the conclusion of the graveside service, which was conducted by Archdeacon Riley, the firing party fired three volleys and a trumpeter sounded last post and reveille.
The chief mourners were Mrs. Foxworthy (wife), Miss Heath Foxworthy
(sister), Mesdames C. Baldock and L.Symes (sisters-in-law), Messrs. L. Symes and W. Adamson (brothers-in-law), Mr.H. Guthrie (uncle), Mrs. H. Guthrie (aunt), Messrs. L. Cook, R. Hammond, E. W. Cook and F. R. Howson and Mesdames T. Vigors, W. Durham and F. R. Howson (cousins).
The pall-bearers were Lieut-Colonel G. F. G. Wieck. D.S.O., Lieut.-Colonel G.W. P. Meredith, Lieut-Colonel W. B. Robinson, D.C.M., Lieut-Colonel A. T
Watts, Major Q. C. Rowe, Major E. G. H. McKenzie, M.C., Major W. Jones and Major J. L. McKinlay, M.M. The coffin, covered with a Union Jack, was borne to the graveside by Warrant Officer W.H. Hackfath, D.C.M., H. P. Lawrence, W. J. Mitchell, M.M., C. H. Sweeny, A. V. Tunstill and W. J. Stanfleld, and Sergeants D. H- B. Jaques and F. R. Higgs.
 
 

John was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican MONA AA 0732.

Photo below from Army Museum of WA shows John's funeral procession

After his death the newspapers published several obituaries, but one written by John Theophilus Lyons of Fremantle deserves a read.

Western Mail 27th February 1936

A Tribute.

Dear "Non-Com."-To one for whom

I have always had the greatest regard, as boy, man, and soldier, the late Colonel John Foxworthy.

It is remarkable what small things lead one to make acquaintances which with personal contact ripens into friendship, not necessarily intimate, but friendship for all that. .

When I first became acquainted with Jack Foxworthy he was a schoolboy of ten years, and I was eight years his senior. A vacant block of land separated our respective homes. Although it may be classed as a schoolboy hobby, even at eighteen years I went in extensively for silkworm culture. I doubt if any lad with the same hobby could say he had upwards, of 65,000 worms to care for!

Young Jack heard of my hobby, and became interested. He came to me and asked if He might learn now to look after them, with a view to keeping them himself. He came to my home to watch them being fed and later to help me wind the silk off the cocoons. The following year I took on other interests, so gave young Jack several thousand eggs to carry on with.

In that manner I became acquainted with the boy who, as a man I was destined to serve under in a military camp.

Even as a boy Jack seemed to have a flair for soldiering, although he came of seafaring stock, his father being a sea captain in the days of sail. Many a time I watched him drilling his sister in the back yard.

As we grew cider our paths diverged, his to his studies, and mine to continue as a man of letters, though not in a literary sense. (I am a signwriter.) We met frequently, and though at that time we had not much in common, we could always dig up something from the past that was of mutual interest. At the age of 21 years or thereabouts Jack qualified as the youngest accountant in Western Australia, if not in Australia. In his

business relationships he was highly respected for his personality, his integrity, and the manner in which he carried out his duties.

I was out of Fremantle for some years so I lost touch, until he joined up with the 44th at Claremont. My first job under him was to write his name on his kit bag. One evening when I was going from camp-to see my people at Beaconsfield, I met Jack's father in the tram. After asking numerous questions as to military camp life and how I' liked it, he said, "Well Jack, and how is that boy of mine getting on?" I told him that "that boy of his" was second in command of my company, and as he had not yet been counted out, he must be doing all right!

All military men and those who once were know of Jack's ability as a soldier, both during the war and since and I will leave it to those with a more able pen than mine to tell the world what the late Lt.-Col. Jack Foxworthy was like as a soldier and a man. One reads the death notices in" the paper unmoved until one sees a familiar name. I personally knew Jack Foxworthy for 37 years-only half a lifetime -and not knowing that he was ill, you can guess what a shock it was to me when I read of his untimely demise.

Although socially and educationally we were poles apart, those poles converged when we met and conversed on things of mutual interest, which were generally of the war, or things military.

Vale. Jack.

774 x 44, Fremantle.

There was also an article for Sir Talbot Hobbs in the West Australian of 16th January 1936;

An Appreciation.

To the Editor.

Sir, — As Honorary Colonel of the 44th Battalion. C.MF., may I pay a tribute to the memory and service of the late Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Foxworthy. V.D who until a few weeks ago commanded it so ably and so well that I think it was entitled to be regarded as second to none of the infantry battalions of the CM Forces in Australia. I have known Colonel Foxworthy for well over 20 years, both as a civilian and a soldier. He had distinguished himself both in peace and war and, as a soldier, by his energy and ability, together with his generous and lovable disposition and tact, bad won the confidence and affection of all ranks of his battalion, and inspired the esprit de corps and high state of efficiency which distinguished it during the years of his command. Not only was he a good soldier, but a thoroughly good and useful citizen, respected by all who knew him. Had he lived, it is al most certain that he would during the next few years have been appointed to command the 13th Infantry Brigade, and, no doubt, would have achieved the same distinction and success as with the 44th Battalion. His untimely death must be deeply deplored and is a great loss to the community.— Yours, etc..

J. TALBOT HOBBS.
Lt.-Gen., Hon. Colonel 44th Battalion.
CMF.