Lennon, John James
831 Private John James Lennon - 12th Battalion AIF
John James Lennon was born in Sandridge Victoria in 1887 to Robert and Margaret Marshall. He was one of seven siblings born into the family, with, Margaret (1876), Robert (1878), William (1879), Eliza (1883), Frederick (1884), Letitia (1885) and Edward (1886). Though sadly William, Frederick and Edward died shortly after birth.
The family moved from Victoria to the WA Goldfields in the 1900's. John secured a boilermaker apprenticeship in Kanowna on the Goldfields. He also served for a year in the Goldfields Regiment of the Citizens Military Forces.
In 1911 Robert Lennon died in Kalgoorlie and John then moved to the Port City. In 1911 John was renting a room at the Victoria Coffee Palace in Fremantle. He was working at the time as a boilermaker.
He soon secured work on Fremantle Harbour as a Lumper/wharf labourer and went to live at 34 Rose Street South Fremantle (now 2 Rose Street).
On the 14th September 1914 John enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit by the medical examiner who recorded John's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 8 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 11 stone 11;
Chest Measurement - 37 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Dark.
Upon his successful enlistment, John was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and was assigned to "G" Company of the 12th Battalion AIF. The 12th Battalion was a mixed State unit with A,B,C & D Companies being formed in Tasmania, E & F Companies in South Australia and G & H Companies in WA. When the eight companies later formed into four companies, the WA "G" and "H" Companies became "D" Company.
For the six weeks after enlistment John trained at Blackboy Hill Camp. Towards the end of the month the WA Companies of the 12th Battalion received their orders to leave WA and so the men packed up camp and entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the HMAT Medic on the 31st October 1914. The ship moved in Gage Roads and set sail on the 2nd November 1914 and then made their way into the Indian Ocean where they joined the rest of the 1st Contingent that had sailed from Albany.
Arriving in Egypt in late November 1914 the men were disembarked and sent into camp at Mena which would be their base for the next few months.
While the 11th Battalion photo on the pyramid is well known, the Western Australians in the 12th Battalion also took the opportunity. (John is pictured in the Photo below though his position is unknown - Army Museum of Western Australia)
John had developed knee trouble while training in Egypt, and was unable to remain with his unit. He was first hospitalised at No.2 Australian General Hospital in February 1915, but was released back to his unit on the 18th February 1915. He then returned to hospital for eight days on the 22nd February 1915.
On the 2nd March 1915, the 12th Battalion as part of the 3rd Brigade left Alexandria and were sent to Lemnos Island in preparation for the landing on the Turkish coast. The 12th Battalion would train at Lemnos for the next several weeks.
John was not with them as he was at the Bombay Presidency General hospital in Alexandria, as he was still undergoing knee trouble. He would remain there until the 13th April 1915. John then managed to leave Egypt with a group of reinforcements and rejoin the 12th Battalion at Lemnos Island.
On the evening of April 24th the troopships began departing Lemnos, bound for the Turkish coast. The 12th Battalion was to be split among the 9th, 10th and 11th Battalions. D Company of the 12th would land with their fellow Western Australians in the 11th Battalion. Landing at North Beach, the men quickly made their way inland through the rocky and scrubby foothills till they reached the 2nd Ridge and some parties continued on to the Third ridge and beyond. Turkish resistance stiffened by mid morning and the Australians were pushed back to a toe hold on the 2nd Ridge.
Despite having a crook knee, John was able to survived the first week of fighting at Gallipoli unscathed. After the first week of fighting over various parts of the battlefield, the 12th Battalion were able to reform and occupied the southern portion of the Anzac battlefield.
John was battling his health but managed to stay at Gallipoli for the next few months. On the 29th July 1915 he was sent to the 2nd Field Ambulance and was diagnosed as suffering from general debility. He was then transferred to a hospital ship and was sent back to Egypt, arriving at Alexandria on the 4th August 1915.
He was admitted to No.1 Australian General Hospital at Heliopolis. He was there for a few weeks and was then transferred to No.1 Stationary Hospital as he was still suffering from synovitis of the knee. On the 16th September 1915 John was transferred to England and on arrival was admitted to King George Hospital in Stanford.
On the 8th November 1915 John was transferred to a hospital in Weymouth England. It was soon clear that his condition would not improve, for as well as the ongoing knee trouble, he was also found to be suffering from malaria. After an examination at the Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park Epsom, the medical authorities recommended that John be returned to Australia.
On the 11th March 1916 John boarded the transport ship Suevic and sailed home for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 22nd April 1916.
On arrival home John was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a final medical check up. Interestingly John's former trade and occupation was listed as lumper and pugilist. John was found to be suffering from Malaria, loose cartilage in knee and chronic laryngitis. The medical officer noted that;
Four months on Gallipoli. Invalided to Egypt with debility, shivering attacks with fever. In Egypt when drilling on rough ground, his left knee gave way and became locked. This has recurred several times since. Enlarge spleen and chronic laryngitis (nearly 1 year).
John was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on the 8th May 1916.
His brother Robert would also return home in a few months after service at Gallipoli with the 4th Field Ambulance.
After his return from the war resided at 21 Holland Street East Fremantle (now 2 Holland Street). It was fortunate that his mother Margaret was a nurse and was able to help somewhat.
Sadly prior to the Great War John had an issue with alcoholism. An article in the 9th September 1913 Daliy News, noted John's issues;
John then appeared to have given up alcohol prior to his enlistment in 1914.
It appears that for the majority of his AIF service alcohol was no issue and upon returning from the war, he resumed employment as a Lumper on Fremantle wharf. Though ill health did cause a few visits to No.8 AGH in Fremantle from 1916 to 1919.
In March 1917 Dr Owen Paget referred John for specialist care. He wrote to a Colonel Hadley;
I have advised the friends of Pte Lennon, a returned soldier to place him under your care. He suffers from hallucinations of hearing especially - he was invalided for Malaria and enlarged spleen. I suggest the possibility of a cerebral abscess.
In August 1918 while living at 45 Suffolk Street John applied to the authorities for sustenance as he had only be receiving casual work as a lumper.
John then seems to have tried to have a change of scenery to see if his health improved as in 1918 he was working at a wheat depot in Spencer's Brook.
Sadly in 1919 John developed Pneumonia/Influenza and was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp Hospital. His condition did not improve and he died aged 31 on the 7th August 1919 at Blackboy Hill Camp Hospital.
John was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Church of Christ Mon GG 0040.