The AIF Project

John Robert CHILDS

Regimental number1334
Place of birthBrisbane Queensland
SchoolSt James (Catholic) School, Brisbane, Queensland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationSailor
Address11 Costin Street, Brisbane, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Next of kinMother, Mrs Catherine Childs, 11 Costin Street, Brisbane, Queensland
Previous military serviceServed in the Royal Navy.
Enlistment date11 December 1914
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name9th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/26/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee on 13 February 1915
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll69th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


'Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty throughout action. (At Hooge 20 September 1917)'
Recommendation date: 6 October 1917

FateKilled in Action 11 August 1918
Place of death or woundingVillers-Bretonneux, France
Age at death25
Age at death from cemetery records26
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsAustralian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
55
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: John and Catherine CHILDS, 11 Costin Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
Medals

Military Medal

'At HOOGE, FRANCE on 20th September, 1917, during the attack on GLENCORSE and POLYGONVELDE WOODS, Pte. CHILDS showed conspicuous gallentry and devotion to duty throughout the action. After the Battalion has passed the 2nd objective he assisted greatly in reorganisation prior to the final assault. During the consolidation and enemy counter attacks he proved himself to be of great value to his Company Commander. he afforded valuable aid in erecting wire under heavy hostile shelling and machine gun fire, also in carrying out patrols into the enemy positions where he obtained valuable information.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 7 March 1918

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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