John George VOGLER

Regimental number4609
Place of birthGayndah, Queensland
SchoolState School, Queensland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationMiner
AddressThorsdale Station, Banana, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation35.10
Height5' 8"
Weight146 lbs
Next of kinSister, Mrs F. Bannah, Eidsvold via Maryborough, Queensland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date1 September 1915
Place of enlistmentRockhampton, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name15th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/32/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 31 January 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll15th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 4 July 1918
Place of death or woundingHemel Wood
Age at death36
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsAustralian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
78
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Frank Henry and Mary VOGLER.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Marched into camp, Zeitoun, 7 March 1916.

Taken on strength of 15th Bn, Serapeum, 2 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 1 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 8 June 1916.

Admitted to Australian Voluntary Hospital, Wimereux, 16 July 1916 (influenza); transferred to No 1 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 16 July 1916; to Base Details, 20 July 1917; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 21 July 1916

Evacuated to hospital, 23 July 1916; admitted to No 26 General Hospital, 26 July 1916 (pteryguin); transferred to England, 29 July 1916; to Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, 30 July 1916; to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 22 September 1916.

Marched into No 3 Command Depot, Wool, 13 October 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 11 November 1916; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 13 November 1916.

Admitted to No 24 General Hospital, 2 December 1916 (mumps); transferred to No 4 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 8 December 1916; discharged, 27 December 1916; marched into No 1 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 28 December 1916; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 31 December 1916.

Proceeded to unit, 3 January 1916; rejoined 15th Bn, 6 January 1917.

Admitted to No 4 Australian Field Ambulance, 24 March 1917 (influenza); transferred to No 3 Australian Field Ambulance (1st Australian Divisional Rest Station), 24 March 1917; to No 1/1 South Midland Casualty Clearing Station, 30 March 1917; to No 8 Stationary Hospital, 3 April 1917; to England, 10 April 1917; to Middlesex War Hospital, Clacton on Sea, 10 April 1917 (trench fever, severe); to No 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 24 April 1917; discharged, 2 May 1917; marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 3 May 1917.

Marched out of No 2 Command Depot, 16 June 1917; marched into No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 18 June 1917 (Class 'B1A').

Marched into Overseas Training Bde, 26 June 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 20 July 1917; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Le Havre, 21 July 1917.

Proceeded to unit, 5 August 1917; rejoined 15th Bn, 8 August 1917.

Detached to 4th Division Salvage Company, 1 December 1917.

On leave to England, 2 February 1918; rejoined 4th Division Salvage Company, 17 February 1918.

Admitted to No 1 Australian Field Ambulance, 24 March 1918, and transferred to No 2 Australian Field Ambulance the same day (trench fever); discharged, 28 March 1918; rejoined 4th Division Salvage Company, 12 April 1918.

Rejoined 15th Bn, 4 May 1918.

Killed in action, 4 July 1918.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, VOGLER John George