KENT, John Morris

John Morris Kent was born in Brighton, England in December, 1890. He was the son of George Kent and Elizabeth Kate, nee Ellison, known as Kate, at the time he enlisted was living with his father at 96 Hotham St. East Melbourne. He was then one month off twenty-five years of age, single and working as a gardener. By religion, he belonged to the Church of England.

John Kent enlisted on 18 November, 1915 and after training was placed with the 5th Battalion, 15th Reinforcements. They embarked on the HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 7 March, 1916, to Egypt, then transferred on 9 May, 1916, from Alexandria to Marseille on 9 May on board the troop ship Caledonia. On 9 June, the reinforcements were at the 1st Australian Division Base at Etaples, and on 17 June, joined the the 5th Battalion on the Western Front. John Kent was taken on strength on 23 June, 1916. He would have had his first experience of war at Pozieres in July 1916, and on the Somme, where the British forces fought the German forces  on both sides of the River Somme.

The winter 0f 1916-17 was bitter for troops in the field. On 29 December, 1916, John Kent was taken from the field by the 6th Field Ambulance, sick. He was admitted and diagnosed as suffering from a septic foot. He was returned to England on HT Dunluce Castle leaving on 20 January from Havre, and admitted for observation to the Northampton War Hospital for observation on 22 January, then discharged for furlough.

On his return from furlough, he was at Wareham, transferred from the 5th Battalion to the 65th Battalion, presumably Reinforcements in England , then re-transferred to the 63rd Battalion. On 17 September, 1917, he was moved to the 17th Field Artillery at Windmill Hill, presumably another re-training exercise. On 9 October, he was re-transferred to the 5th Battalion, travelling back to the battlefront on 9 October, 1917, but was back in hospital with scabies on 26 February, 1918.

John Kent rejoined the 5th Battalion, but was wounded in the field and admitted to hospital on 5 May, 1918 with gas poisoning. He was back at the front again in August, but suffered a gunshot wound to his arm, described as a flesh wound. He was sent back to England to the Beaufort War Hospital, then again returned to the front. On 17 September, he was again wounded, this time a gunshot wound to the leg and was sent back to England to the Beaufort War Hospital. By now, the war was coming to an end. John Morris was discharged to furlough on 21 December, 1918. On 4 January, 1919, he marched in to the No. 2 Convalescent Depot at Weymouth and returned to Australia on the Margha, leaving England on 18 January and landing in Melbourne on 5 March, 1919.

It is difficult to trace him for long after the war. In 1922, the Electoral Rolls have him living at 96 Hotham St., East Melbourne, with his father,George, a ledgerkeeper, his mother Kate and Evelyn Mabel Morris, presumably a sister. John Morris' occupation was upholsterer. In 1926, John Morris is gardener, living at Bartlett St., Preston. By 1927, he is a gardener and has moved to 9 Harrison St., Hawthorn, with Elizabeth Kate. After that, he disappears from the Electoral Rolls. His death is recorded as 1961, aged 70, at Park, Victoria.