John Douglass WALL

Regimental number783
Place of birthParramatta, New South Wales
SchoolSt Ignatius College, Riverview, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationClerk
Address80A Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 5.25"
Weight132 lbs
Next of kinFather, James Thomas Wall, 80A Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed for 3 years in the 32nd Bn, Senior Cadets, in the Compulsory Training Scheme.
Enlistment date6 July 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name30th Battalion, C Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/47/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on 9 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll30th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France
Age at death20
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 3), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
117
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: James Thomas and Avelyn Mary WALL.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 11 December 1915.

Found guilty, Ismailia, 7 February 1916, of insubordination: awarded 4 days' Punishment Drill.

Found guilty, Tel el Kebir, of insubordination: awarded 3 days' Punishment Drill.

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

Found guilty, 7 July 1916, of insubordination, 6 July 1916: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Found guilty, 7 July 1916, of being absent from 1400 hours until 1600 hours: awarded 3 days' Field Punishment No 2 by Captain Wark.

Wounded in action, 20 July 1916.

Now, 28 December 1916, to be reported wounded and missing.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 23 July 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 2840301, 749 Pte H.J. STEVENSON, 30th Bn, 7 March 1917: 'I saw him lying on a stretcher in our front line at Fleurbaix on 19th. July, with a wounded shoulder. I do not know the extent of his wounds. The S/B's were with him. That is the last I know of him.'

Second statement, 702 Pte G. LOTON, A Company, 5th Pioneer Bn, 21 June 1917: 'On the 19th July, 1916 we went over the top from "V.C." sap at Fleurbaix at 7 a.m. I saw Wall go over but did not see him again. I was told that he was hit as he went over and died on the way to the dressing station. It was broad daylight when we went over. I saw his grave in the Military Cemetery which is near Pinny's Avenue at Fleurbaix. There was a cross with his name, number and battalion on it over the grave.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsSecond given name incorrectly entered on Embarkation Roll as Douglas.
SourcesNAA: B2455, WALL John Douglass
Red Cross File No 2840301