A century on from the end of World War I we acknowledge their service …
Lest we forget.
Private John Hehir
Born: 1873 Beaufort. Died of wounds: 20 May 1918 France.
Enlisted: 18 January 1917 aged 44
Served: Western Front
John was the son of Patrick Joseph Hehir and Margaret Ann Tracey and grew up around Beaufort, near Ballarat.
The death of his father in 1897 left John’s mother with several younger children to raise alone. Her financial position was precarious and the destruction of the family home by fire in 1902 pushed the family into destitution.
By the time he enlisted, John was a 44 year old labourer of no fixed address, likely working in the Pakenham district, as he had two brothers living locally: Michael a farmer and William an engine driver.
John left Australia for England in May 1917 and arrived there in July, attending a course at the School of Farriery and qualified as a “cold shoer”.
In April 1918, Jack proceeded to France, where he was taken on strength with the 23rd Battalion.
Just one month later, on 20 May 1915, he was severely wounded in action and died at the 5th Australian Field Ambulance.
He was honoured by the Pakenham community with a gold medallion, presented to his family at a special welcome home social.
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
