The AIF Project

John Sinclair LUMSDAINE

Regimental number3856
Date of birth18 November 1895
Place of birthCasino, New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationBank clerk
AddressFig Tree Road, Hunter's Hill, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Height5' 8"
Weight127 lbs
Next of kinFather, Herbert Sinclair Lumsdaine, Fig Tree Road, Hunters Hill, Sydney, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date19 August 1915
Place of enlistmentWarwick Farm, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name2nd Battalion, 12th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/19/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 30 December 1915
Rank from Nominal RollWarrant Officer (Class II)
Unit from Nominal RollAustralian Army Pay Corps
FateReturned to Australia 8 July 1919
Discharge date27 October 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 20 Decemember 1915.

Admitted to No 1 Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, 29 February 1916 (bronchitis); discharged to duty, 15 March 1916.

Promoted Corporal, 25 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 29 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 4 April 1916.

Transferred to and taken on strength of 1st Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples, 7 April 1916.

On leave to England, 24 June 1916; returned from leave, 2 July 1916. Promoted Sergeant, 1 August 1916.

Admitted to 26th General Hospital, Etaples, 20 March 1917 (tonsilitis); transferred to England, 31 March 1917, and admitted to Ipswich Auxiliary Hospital (no further details recorded). Granted furlough (no date recorded); admitted to Brigade Hospital, No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 30 May 1917 (post innoculation); discharged to Depot, 31 May 1917; marched in to No 1 Command Depot, 1 June 1917.

Detached to AIF Depots in the United Kingdom, 9 August 1917.

Attached to Pay Corps, Tidworth, for duty, 18 September 1917.

Marched for duty as Pay Sergeant at 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital (Convalescent Training Depot), Bulford, 29 September 1917.

Attached for duty to Chief Paymaster, London, 24 January 1919.

Married Dorothy Rosina STALEY, spinster, aged 21, of the Swan Hotel, Hammersmith, at the Parish Church, Pimlico, 7 June 1919.

Promoted Warrant Officer Class II whilst on duty, 10 June 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Friedrichsruhe', 8 July 1919; disembarked Sydney, 4 September 1919; discharged, 27 October 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

After demobilisation he developed a successful career in the entertainment business as a singer, composer, orchestral conductor, theatre organist and radio announcer.
Date of death28 August 1948
Age at death52
Place of burialCremated
Sources'Australian Dictionary of Biography', vol. 10, pp. 168-9

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