The AIF Project

John Joseph MAKEHAM

Regimental number98
Place of birthWelshford, Victoria
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationFarmer
AddressLoch, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Height5' 9"
Weight161 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs E Makeham, Loch, Victoria
Previous military serviceMember, Bass Valley Rifle Club (1 year); previously rejected for enlistment on account of leg.
Enlistment date20 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name29th Battalion, Machine Gun Section
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/46/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 10 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll8th Machine Gun Company
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records22
Place of burialRue-Petillon Military Cemetery (Plot I, Row K, Grave No. 37), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
178
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: William Breheney and Elizabeth Mary MAKEHAM, Loch, Victoria
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 10 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 7 December 1915.

Transferred to 8th Machine Gun Company, 10 March 1916; taken on strength, Tel el Kebir, 11 March 1916.

Admitted to No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, 26 March 1916 (parotitis); transferred to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, 26 March 1916 (mumps); discharged to duty from No 4 Australian Auxiliary hospital, 1 April 1916; rejoined unit, 2nd Rail Head, 5 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Killed in action, 20 July 1916.

Buried in Rue Petillon Cemetery; reported by Rev. Thomas J. KING, attached to 8th Infantry Brigade.

Statement, Red Cross File No 1680134, 92 Sergeant A. FULLARD, 9th Bde, Machine Gun Company (patient, St George's Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England), 27 July 1916: 'Informant states that on Wednesday July 0th at 9 p.m. at Fromelles south of Armentieres the brigade during [the] afternoon had advanced and had taken 1st and 2nd line enemy trenches, this machine gun coy followed up in the rear. Later in the evening in single file and a shell burst[,] wounded Informant in right calf and hitting also Makeham who fell face downwards. Informant lay for over 30 minutes next to Makeham who never moved or made a sound, Informant is sure Makeham was killed. After 30 minutes Informant startd to crawl to dressing station at the rear of the line.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, MAKEHAM John Joseph
Red Cross File No 1680134

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.