FAR. Sgt.
John Wynd
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1894 |
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Place of birth: Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Blacksmith |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Farrier-Sergeant |
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Service number: 772 |
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Enlistment date: 19/08/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Field Artillery, 11th Bde. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Broodseinde, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 23 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Farrier-Sergeant John Wynd served in the Australian Field Artillery 11th Brigade, part of the Divisional Royal Artillery of the 4th Australian Division. As a Farrier-Sergeant John Wynd looked after the horses of the Artillery Brigade. He was responsible for the shoeing of the horses. He would have had four Shoeing Smiths (of which 1 would be a Corporal) beneath him.
The Australian Field Artillery 11th Brigade already participated in the Battle of Broodseinde on the 4th and the Battle of Poelcapelle on the 9th of October 1917.
The bad weather and the destruction of the irrigation streams between the fields, due to the relentless shelling, had turned the terrain in a bog. The moving of the guns through the sticky mud proved to be a very strenuous task, exhausting men and horses alike. On the 11th the guns of the Australian Field Artillery 11th Brigade were moved forward. The batteries took up positions near the hamlet of Broodseinde. They were to support the attack of the 4th Australian Division during the First Battle of Passchendaele on the 12th of October 1917. But the First Battle of Passchedaele was unsuccessful and the advance came to a standstill. The Australian Field Artillery 11th Brigade remained at their positions near Broodseinde.
On the 20th of October 1917 the guns were putting down harassing fire on German roads and approaches and engaged several German batteries. The German artillery had been active throughout the day and responded to the Australian fire. Consequently the 42nd and 43rd Battery of the Australian Field Artillery 11th Brigade were heavily shelled. According to the War Diary the German shelling killed one other rank on the 20th of October 1917. It’s highly likely this was Farrier-Sergeant John Wynd, who was killed on the 20th of October 1917. His remains were never recovered and John Wynd is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
The Australian Field Artillery 11th Brigade already participated in the Battle of Broodseinde on the 4th and the Battle of Poelcapelle on the 9th of October 1917.
The bad weather and the destruction of the irrigation streams between the fields, due to the relentless shelling, had turned the terrain in a bog. The moving of the guns through the sticky mud proved to be a very strenuous task, exhausting men and horses alike. On the 11th the guns of the Australian Field Artillery 11th Brigade were moved forward. The batteries took up positions near the hamlet of Broodseinde. They were to support the attack of the 4th Australian Division during the First Battle of Passchendaele on the 12th of October 1917. But the First Battle of Passchedaele was unsuccessful and the advance came to a standstill. The Australian Field Artillery 11th Brigade remained at their positions near Broodseinde.
On the 20th of October 1917 the guns were putting down harassing fire on German roads and approaches and engaged several German batteries. The German artillery had been active throughout the day and responded to the Australian fire. Consequently the 42nd and 43rd Battery of the Australian Field Artillery 11th Brigade were heavily shelled. According to the War Diary the German shelling killed one other rank on the 20th of October 1917. It’s highly likely this was Farrier-Sergeant John Wynd, who was killed on the 20th of October 1917. His remains were never recovered and John Wynd is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Sources 6
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AIF-project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/search Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/people/roll-search/all/?preferred_name=&service_number=&unit=&conflict=0&op=Search Sources used |
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CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1602159/WYND,%20JOHN Sources used |
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National Archives of Australia http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Australian Field Artillery 11th Bde. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/awm4/ Sources used |