Cpl
John George Lancaster
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1891 |
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Place of birth: Manilla, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Corporal |
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Service number: 3944 |
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Enlistment date: 21/08/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 20th Bn. (New South Wales) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 26 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 23 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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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
Corporal John George Lancaster was born in the year 1891 in Manilla, New South Wales, Australia to William and Emily Lancaster. He had 10 siblings and worked as a labourer.
He enlisted on the 21st of August 1915 at Newcastle, NSW, Australia and embarked on the 20th of January 1916 on board of the H.T. Runic from Sydney. He was taken on by ‘B’ Company 20th Battalion Australian Infantry (5th Australian Brigade, 2nd Australian Division). He started his service as a private and was promoted to corporal.
The 20th Bn. A.I.F. took part in the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. On 6 November 1917 the area where they were stationed was shelled by an German artillery barrage during the attack on Passchendaele. During the day a party of 70 men did some hours wiring work at Tokio under command of an Engineer officer. In the evening a party of 60 soldiers carried rations up for the 17th Bn. A.I.F. In the war diary is mentioned that four soldiers were killed and six wounded. In the Red Cross Wounded and Missing file of Pte. Gallagher (‘B’ Coy., 20th Bn. A.I.F.), Pte. Lancaster is mentioned by name. According to this record, Pte. Gallagher and Cpl. Lancaster were killed on the night of 6 November at the corner of Polygon Wood. Both men were in a dugout when a shell landed on top and killed them instantly. They were found the next morning, still wrapped in their blankets. They were buried on the spot (J.4.C.6.0.) on the far side of Polygon Wood near the Butte. Nonetheless, his body was never retrieved or identified after the war. He is now commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, panel 23.
He enlisted on the 21st of August 1915 at Newcastle, NSW, Australia and embarked on the 20th of January 1916 on board of the H.T. Runic from Sydney. He was taken on by ‘B’ Company 20th Battalion Australian Infantry (5th Australian Brigade, 2nd Australian Division). He started his service as a private and was promoted to corporal.
The 20th Bn. A.I.F. took part in the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. On 6 November 1917 the area where they were stationed was shelled by an German artillery barrage during the attack on Passchendaele. During the day a party of 70 men did some hours wiring work at Tokio under command of an Engineer officer. In the evening a party of 60 soldiers carried rations up for the 17th Bn. A.I.F. In the war diary is mentioned that four soldiers were killed and six wounded. In the Red Cross Wounded and Missing file of Pte. Gallagher (‘B’ Coy., 20th Bn. A.I.F.), Pte. Lancaster is mentioned by name. According to this record, Pte. Gallagher and Cpl. Lancaster were killed on the night of 6 November at the corner of Polygon Wood. Both men were in a dugout when a shell landed on top and killed them instantly. They were found the next morning, still wrapped in their blankets. They were buried on the spot (J.4.C.6.0.) on the far side of Polygon Wood near the Butte. Nonetheless, his body was never retrieved or identified after the war. He is now commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, panel 23.
Sources 8
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Sources used |
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Australian Red Cross - Pte William Michael Gallagher https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1485583 Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1599026/john-george-lancaster/ Sources used |
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National Archives of Australia https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=7374798&isAv=N Sources used |
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The AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=169679&printFormat=print Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used |
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War Diary, 20th Bn AIF, November 1917 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1343449 Sources used |