The AIF Project

John Samuel GANT

Regimental number5574
Place of birthWhatfield, England
SchoolHintlesham School, Suffolk, England
Age on arrival in Australia23
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressGlenhurst, Lockwood, Canowindra, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation29
Next of kinFather, John Gant, Mill Farm, Hintlesham, Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Enlistment date25 March 1916
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name17th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/34/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 9 September 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll17th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


Work at Mont St. Quentin on 31 August 1918.
Recommendation date: 7 September 1918

FateDied 19 November 1918
Age at death from cemetery records31
Place of burialSte Marie Cemetery (Plot IV, Row C, Grave No. 3), Le Havre, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
82
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: John and Laura GANT, Mill Farm, Hintlesham, Ipswich, England. Native of Whatfield, Suffolk, England
Medals

Military Medal

'During the attack on MONT ST. QUENTIN, near PERONNE, on 31st August 1918, this man was a company runner. The successful communication of the company with flanks and battalion Headquarters was absolutely dependent on runner, as owing to enemy pressure it was impossible to lay telephone wires. He worked incessantly for 18 hours, through heavy and continuous artillery and Machine Gun fire, and never once failed to deliver his message to the front line, although time and again, sniped at by the enemy, who overlooked the position from 100 yards distance.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 115
Date: 10 October 1919

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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