Forkin, John
6046 Private John Forkin - 11th Battalion AIF
John was born on the 26th April 1890 in Fremantle to Mark and Mary Forkin and was one of ten siblings born into the family.
The family lived in the Fremantle and Rottnest region and his father was a Prison Warder on Rottnest Island. After the prison closed, Mark Forkin stayed on Rottnest as a caretaker. This last till around his death in Fremantle in September 1909.
The family then lived in West Leederville. After completing his education, John took up employment with the WA Government Railways. By the time of the Great War he was working as a Locomotive Driver.
On the 27th february 1916 John enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 8 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 125lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-37 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment, John was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was initially sent to No.57 Training Depot. He was taken through the basics of infantry work while at this camp. On the 11th April 1916 hew as then transferred into the 19th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF.
John trained with this group in WA for the next few months. Their embarkation orders finally came through and on the 7th August 1916, John and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Miltiades. This ship then set sail for England, arriving at Plymouth on the 24th September 1916.
After their arrival in England, John and his group were disembarked and sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Perham Downs Camp. He remained in England through most of the remainder of 1916.
On the 17th December 1916 John was sent to France. He had a few weeks at the 1st Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples but on the 4th January 1917 he fell ill and was sent to the 26th General Hospital. He remained here for the next few weeks and on the 1st February 1917 was shipped to England.
He was admitted to Chatham Military Hospital and remained there till the 7th March 1917, when he was given a two week furlough, after which he reported into camp at Perham Downs.
His fitness level was downgraded as not yet well enough to be sent to the Western Front. This was exacerbated when, in April 1917, he was diagnosed with venereal disease. He was sent to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford and remained there till June 1917.
John spent the next few months in various camps in England but as his health did not improve, being diagnosed with dilation of the heart and tachycardia, the medical authorities recommended his return to Australia.
On the 31st October 1917 John left England on the transport ship Berrima and sailed home for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 22nd December 1917.
He was discharged from the AIF on the 17th January 1918. He was then granted a medical pension of 30/- per fortnight.
John then returned home to West Leederville and resumed his employment as a Locomotive Driver.
In 1920 John married Eileen Kathleen O'Donnell; and they had three children, Winifred 1921, Mark 1925 and John 1933.
He continued to work for the Railways and during the 1920's and 30's lived at Perth, Bunbury and Geraldton.
In 1937 they returned to North Perth
John died on the 13th January 1939 while living in Kalgoorlie. He was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery plot Roman Catholic CA 0067.