We remember: Justin Bede Fox

A century on from the end of World War I we acknowledge their service …
Lest we forget.

Gunner Justin Bede Fox
Born: 25 April 1885 Christchurch, NZ. Killed in action: 15 November 1917 Anzac Ridge, Belgium.
Enlisted: 8 November 1915 aged 29
Served: Egypt and Western Front

Born in New Zealand, Justin moved to Pakenham where he bought land near the Toomuc Valley Orchard in 1914.

He was a 29 years old farmer (orchardist) when he enlisted in November 1915 and embarked to Egypt before being transferred to the Western Front in France with the 1st Division Medium Trench Mortar Brigade.

In November 1917, Justin was serving near Ypres, Belgium during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) and the brigade suffered heavy casualties at Anzac Ridge near Ypres.

Replacement volunteers were called for from the trench mortar units. With selfless disregard for his own safety, and in the ultimate expression mateship between soldiers, Justin stepped forward in the place of a comrade: “When the call for volunteers came to the Field Artillery … a young married Victorian stepped out, but Corporal Fox drew him back, reminded him of his wife and child looking for his return to Australia and with a breezy ‘this is my job’ took the place of his comrade”.

Tragically, just five days after volunteering, Justin was killed instantly on 15 November 1917 by concussion from an exploding shell.

This is an extract from Patrick Ferry’s book A Century After The Guns Fell Silent – Remembering the Pakenham District’s WWI Diggers 1914-18.
For more details on this and other profiles in the book, head to the website www.pakenhamww1.com