The AIF Project

John Royce BETANCOR

Regimental number2578
Date of birth31 August 1895
Place of birthMelbourne, Victoria
SchoolEastern Road State School, South Melbourne, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationDental mechanic
Address42 Withers Street, Albert Park, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 3.5"
Weight113.5 lbs
Next of kinFather, John F Betancor, 42 Withers Street, Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date2 August 1915
Place of enlistmentGeelong, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name24th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/41/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 27 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll60th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll)*Given name Royce John
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles)
Date of death19 July 1916
Age at death20
Age at death from cemetery records20
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 19) , Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
169
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: John Francis and Ella Stewart BETANCOR. Native of South Melbourne, Victoria
Other details

Originally enlisted, 12 April 1915, underage and without parents' permission; recommended for discharge. Parents did give permission subsequently, 17 July 1915.

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength, 60th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 26 February 1916.

Admitted to 15th Australian Field Ambulance, 19 March 1916 (scabies), and transferred same day to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital; to No 4 Hospital Train, 20 March 1916, and admitted same day to No 4 Auxiliary hospital, Abbassia; discharged to unit, 27 March 1916; rejoined unit, Ferry Post, 2 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported missing, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Statement on Red Cross File No 370201 from 3047 Sergeant W.L. CARKEET, D Company, 60th Bn (patient, No 9 General Hospital, Rouen), 8 November 1916: 'He was officially reported missing after the action at Fromelles on the 19th July. About 3 weeks afterwards, Betancor's disc was brought in by Serg. Moir of the Intelligence Dept. and taken to the Orderly Room. I saw the disc myself.'

Second statement, 2860 Pte L.D. PUGH, C Company, 60th Bn, 128 June 1917: 'On the 19th July, 1916, we were in the "V.C." sap sector. We went over about 6 p.m. I saw Betancor go over and also in the advance. He got about 200 yards from our lines when I saw him hit and drop. I was about 20 yards from him; it was clear daylight at the time. That was the last I saw of him. The attack failed and we retired.'

Third statement, 3075 Pte W.J. CUNNINGHAM, 59th Bn, 18 July 1917: 'From Lieut. [F.M.] Diamond C. Coy, 60th Battn. I obtained information about this man who was a friend of mine. This officer showed me the disc that had belonged to this man. He informed me that Betancor had been reported missing after the attack at Fromelles on July 19th 1916, and that he (Diamond) had gone out afterwards and found the body of the missing man in No Man's Land between the two front lines (German and British). He did not bring the man in, but buried him in a shell hole and took his disc for identification purposes.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BETANCOR John Royce
Red Cross File No 370201

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