John MORLEY

Regimental number258
Date of birth11 December 1868
Place of birthCalcutta, India
True NameHOWARD, William John
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationPainter
AddressSouth Woodburn, Richmond River, New South Wales
Marital statusWidower
Age at embarkation44
Height6' 0.5"
Weight147 lbs
Next of kinFriend, James Palmer, South Woodburn, Richmond River, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date15 July 1915
Place of enlistmentBrisbane, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name31st Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/48/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 9 November 1915
Two ships sailed from Melbourne carrying men from the 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C, and D: HMAT A62,'Wandilla', on 9 November 1915, and HMAT A41, 'Bakara', on 5 November 1915.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll31st Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of burialFromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot IV, Row E, Grave No 3), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
118
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
True name HOWARD, W.J. See letter from brother F.T. HOWARD
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, ex 'Wandilla', 7 December 1915.

Found guilty, 23 April 1916, of being (1) improperly dressed on parade, (2) unshaven: awarded one extra guard.

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

Killed in action, 20 July 1916.

'German list received by Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau, Australian Branch, British Red Cross Society', 4 November 1916, show that 'identification marks found on the Prisoner of War are inspected by the General War Bureau and shown in the lists as under:- DEAD'.

Identity disc received from Germany, 24 February 1917.

Note on the Statement of Service states, 'buried in the vicinity of Fleurbaix, Sh[eet] 36 NW'.

Note on Red Cross File No 1820613: 'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.'

Note on file: 'Buried Fleurbaix Sheet 36 NW. Cert by Captain Spedding's List. Effects received from Germany and forwarded to N/K. 16.10.17.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 3), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.
Miscellaneous detailsTrue place of birth; Yambuk, Victoria; true age at enlistment: 46
SourcesNAA: B2455, MORLEY John
Red Cross file 1820613