The AIF Project

John Alfred SPOONER

Regimental number3317
Place of birthAdelaide, South Australia
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
AddressQueenstown, South Australia
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation33
Height5' 4.25"
Weight115 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Elsie Spooner, Port Road, Alberton, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil (previously rejected for AIF enlistment on account of teeth)
Enlistment date28 March 1916
Place of enlistmentAdelaide, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A57 Malakuta on 27 June 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 27 September 1917
Discharge date4 December 1917
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 27 June 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 22 August 1916; marched in to 8th Training Bn, Larkhill, 24 August 1916.

Found guilty, 12 September 1916, of when on Active Service disobeying a lawful command given by his superior Officer in that he at Larkhill on 7 September 1916, when ordered to double by Sergeant Dearing, refused to do so: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited a total of 14 days' pay.

Proceeded overseas to France (date not recorded); marched in to 5th Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples, 12 November 1916.

Taken on strength, 32nd Bn, in the field, 25 November 1916.

Admitted to 14th Australian Field Ambulance, 2 January 1917 (influenza); discharged to duty from Anzac Corps Rest Station, 18 January 1917.

Admitted to 45th Casualty Clearing Station, 16 Februiary 1917 (frost bite, toe); transferred to 1st Australian General Hospital, Rouen 17 February 1917; transferred to England, 12 March 1917, and admitted to Reading War Hospital, 14 March 1917; discharged on furlough, 6 July 1917, to report to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 20 July 1917.

Marched in to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 27 July 1917.

Found guilty, 25 July 1917, of being absent without leave from 3.30 pm, 20 July, till 3.30 pm, 23 July 1917: awarded 5 days' confined to camp, and forfeiture of 4 days' pay.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Suevic', 27 September 1917; disembarked, 18 November 1917; discharged (medically unfit: caries of spine), Adelaide, 4 December 1917.

War service: 1 year 252 days (of which 1 year 145 days was abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death25 May 1932 Death attributed to war service.
SourcesNAA: B2455, SPOONER John Alfred

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