McFarlane, John Charles (2347)

Place of Birth: Port Melbourne, VIC

Age: 18 years

Enlistment Details: Monday, 12 July 1915 – Melbourne, VIC

Service Number: 2347            view online service record

Address:
411 Nott Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Next of Kin:
John McFarlane (father)
411 Nott Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Embarkation Details:
Date: Wednesday, 29 September 1915
Ship: RMS Osterley
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 22nd Infantry Battalion – 5th Reinforcements

Fate:
RTA: Saturday, 4 December 1920
Discharged: Wednesday, 21 July 1920

Awards: DCM

His father later moved to 370 Graham Street.

John was discharged due to being illegally absent from 28 August 1919 and thus automatically forfeited the right to his medals. He finally returned to Australia, disembarking at Melbourne on 12 February 1921. Two days later he wrote to the military authorities asking for his Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) to be restored. He gave his reasons for going absent as ‘after being in prison for an unjust sentence I reported to camp in April 1919 and was hanging around camps for three months and was not put on a quota and not drawing any pay and as I had offer of employment in Ireland and thinking I could improve my position I went to Ireland and was working there until such time as the country got unsettled I came back to England and reported, from then on I have been in touch with Australian HQ in London.

The initial reaction of the authorities was that due to his past conduct he had forfeited all medals however it appears that this was overturned and John did receive his war medals.

1918 ‘” DARKIE” McFARLANE, D.C.M.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 16 February, p. 1. , viewed 07 Feb 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88367889

1918 ‘D.C.M. WON.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 23 March, p. 4. , viewed 16 Mar 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88369074