Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
One of 14 Auburn Memorial men killed in the 3rd Battle of Ypres in October 1917 was miner 3107 Private John James Remilton, 26. Remilton was married to Cecilia, who lived in Parramatta Road, Auburn. He enlisted in Liverpool on 16 July 1915 and embarked on the Warilda on 8 October 1915. Most recruits of July 1915 were too late for Gallipoli, but Remilton must have arrived in Egypt by the cut-off date of 31 December 1915 as he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star.
Allocated to the 56th Battalion, Fifth Australian Division, Remilton had one ‘crime’ entered on his record. He was awarded one day of Field Punishment Number 2 for ’talking in the ranks’.
Remilton arrived in France on 29 June 1916, but was almost immediately evacuated to Leicester (United Kingdom) General Hospital with appendicitis. He spent four months in the UK recovering, returning to his battalion in Belgium in January 1917. In April 1917, he was hospitalised again with gas poisoning.
On 18 October 1917, Remilton suffered multiple wounds to his arms and legs and he died of wounds two days later. He was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery at Poperinge in Belgium. There are 10,750 burials from the First World War in this cemetery, with 1,131 being Australian. Remilton was in the AIF for two years and three months.
His wife Cecila received his medals and a pension of ￡2 p.f. plus ￡1 p.f. for their child.
John Remilton is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- St Philip's Anglican Church Auburn First World War Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
- 1914-1915 Star
