| Regimental number | 3088 |
| Place of birth | South Melbourne, Victoria |
| School | South Melbourne State School, Victoria |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Occupation | Linotyper |
| Address | 321 Dawson Street, West Brunswick, Victoria |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 27 |
| Height | 5' 2" |
| Weight | 140 lbs |
| Next of kin | Wife, C L Lancaster, 321 Dawson Street, West Brunswick, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 6th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/23/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT RMS Osterley on |
| Regimental number from Nominal Roll | 3088A |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 60th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France |
| Age at death | 28.4 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 28 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 21), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 170 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: William and Marion LANCASTER; husband of C.L. LANCASTER, 5 Kitchener Street, West Brunswick, Victoria |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Admitted to Isolation Hospital, Abbassia, 19 November 1915 (venereal); discharged to unit, 20 November 1915. Taken on strength, 6th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 7 January 1916. Transferred to 58th Bn, and taken on strength, Serapeum, 17 February 1916. Transferred to 60th Bn, and taken on strength, Tel el Kebir, 15 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported Missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Note, Red Cross File No 1541007: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills. 10.10.19.' Statement, 267 Pte T.W. ELLIOTT, 60th Bn, 19 December 1916: 'I knew him. We started that morning from Fromelles to take the first line trenches. We had to retire to our original line as the shelling was very heavy. His brother enquired about him from the depot Horseferry Road, London[,] and they replied that he was killed.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, LANCASTER John William
Red Cross File No 1541007 |