34th BATTALION AIF
Private: 2094 Jonathan IRWIN. MM
Born: 1872. County Durham, England.
Died: 12th November 1945. Islington via Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:25127/1945.
Father: Unknown.
Mother: Unknown.
INFORMATION
Served bravely and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
78 years ago today, on the Tuesday afternoon of the 13th November 1945, Private Jonathan Irwin (M.M.), referred to as Johna, 34th Battalion (Reg No-2094), miner (Stockton Borehole Colliery), from Bellbird, New South Wales and Victoria Street, Carrington, N.S.W. (1918), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 73. ANGLICAN 3-171. 26.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134363850 - funeral notice states service.
Born at Bishop Auckland, England about 1872 to ? and ? Irwin, Johna enlisted on the 22nd February 1916 at West Maitland, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A68 Anchises on the 24th August 1916.
Wounded in action - 12.10.1917 (GSW back, 1st Battle of Passchendaele).
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122840585 - the 367th & 368th Australian Casualty lists, N.S.W., WOUNDED, J. Irwin, Carrington.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138748936 - report that Johna had been wounded and admitted to hospital.
Embarked for England 18.10.1917.
Commenced return to Australia 30.1.1918.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138151334 - report that Johna is returning home soon.
Johna was invalided home on the 21st March 1918, being discharged medically unfit (back injury) on the 22nd April 1918.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138160418 - report that Johna and several Newcastle soldiers had returned home on the Friday afternoon train.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138153230 - report of a public welcome home and presentation of bars to Johna and 9 other Carrington boys at the Carrington School of Arts.
Mr. Irwin’s name has been inscribed on the Carrington Citizens' Memorial Gates and the Carrington Municipal District Roll of Honor. Name not inscribed on the Bellbird Honour Roll.
I have placed poppies at Johna’s gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.
Not officially commemorated.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
Lest We Forget.
Gary Mitchell: November 2023.
Awarded Military Medal 28th January 1918.
Commonwealth Gazette: 27 June 1918 on page 1390 at position 97
London Gazette: 28 January 1918 on page 1403 at position 69
Family Information
Jonathan was a single 42 year old Coal Miner from Bellbird via Cessnock, New South Wales upon his enlistment with the AIF.
Military Records
© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)
Under Construction: 18/11/2023-20/11/2023.