John Joseph Sperling

Name   John Joseph Sperling

Number     Private 1194

Battalion      8^th Battalion  

Place of Birth   Koonwarra

Next of Kin   His father, Richard Sperling of Fernshade Koonwarra

Date and place of enlistment   Leongatha 2/10/1914

Physical details   Age 23 years and 10 months, 5’ 9”, 11 stone 3 pounds, grey eyes and brown hair

Religion   Baptist

Occupation   Farmer

Date and place of death

He became ill from enteric fever at the end of June 1915 and was transferred to The 15^th Stationary Hospital at Mudros, Lemnos Greece. He died there on 8/7/1915.

Location of memorial

He was buried at Mudros East Cemetery Lemnos Greece on 9/7/1915

Relationship to Woorayl Shire

The Sperling family were residents of Koonwarra

Military

• He is on the Koonwarra Honour Roll
• 2/10/14 He enlisted in Leongatha
• 22/12/14 He embarked Melbourne on HMAT Thermistocles
• 8/5/15 He was at Gallipoli
• 29/6/15 He suffered from diarrhoea at Anzac,
• 29/6/15 He suffered from gastro enteritis at Anzac
• 2/7/15 He was sent to Lemnos with enteric fever
• 6/7/15 He was transferred to the 15^th Stationary Hospital Mudros and died on 8/7/15
• His effects were a belt spring, photos, post cards and a writing case
• A parcel was sent via Thomas Cook
• 10/9/21 His family received his memorial scroll
• 11/9/22 The family received his Victory Medal
• In his will he left everything to his father Richard
• Mr. Brumley of The MUIOOF Leongatha asked for a death certificate so he could pay the funeral claim
• There is a letter from Mr. Sutherland solicitor of Leongatha asking if he has any pay owing
• There is a letter from Richard Sperling stating that they heard their son had died but then heard Lt Cook saw him with another local lad and that they had come back from hospital to the trenches. The answer stated that Lt Cook was wrong.