John Champion (1887-1917)

No.521  Private John Champion
John Champion was born in 1887 at Hotham, Victoria.  This is the registered birth place but it appears to be North Melbourne in Electoral Roll information.   He was born to John Champion and Margaret Lee and appears to be an only child.  According to a base record document of John's parents whereabouts, as of 1922 were either unknown(John's father) or had died 1 January 1916 (John's mother). As his maternal grandparents had died and his paternal grandparents were unknown, the only next of kin to receive the medals was his Aunty Mrs Ellen Marshall of Cooper Street, Preston.  His uncle William Lee of Tarneit, Werribee asked for her to receive them instead of him.

War Service
John enlisted into the Army at Bendigo Victoria on the 7 March 1916. He was 28 years old and 9 months and he was 5 feet ten and a quarter inches tall.  John weighed 168 pounds and had a chest measurement of 39 inches.  His complexion was listed as fair, with grey eyes and brown hair.  All of this was recorded at the time of enlistment.  

He proceeded overseas to Southampton first on the 20 June 1916 via H.M.A.T Runic.  He then proceeded to France on 22 November 1916. He was with the 38th Battalion company and was a Private. He was wounded in action 17 June 1917 and then rejoined his battalion 13 June 1917.  John was wounded in action a second time. He died of these wounds at 57th General Hospital GSW and was buried at Boulougne Eastern Cemetery.  

His next of kin was his aunty, Mrs E. Marshall who was living in Cooper Street, Preston.  When confirmed that she was his foster mother and next of kin in the war documents, he received the following medals: 

Medals & Entitlements

• Memorial Plaque - 31 January 1923
• Memorial Scroll - 3 October 1922
• British War Medal - 24 June 1922
• Victory Medal - 24 June 1922

War Records
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch
http://www.awm.gov.au/people/roll-search/roll_of_honour/
http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/index.html

Family Records
http://search.ancestry.com.au