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John Lindsay Rollason - Information

John Lindsay Rollason is listed in The Campbelltown Herald as a local man who had joined the AIF. John enlisted at Brunswick in Victoria on the 15th of June 1916. At the time, he was just 19 years old and working as a farmer in Tourak. During training, he was designated to the 2nd Reinforcements, 3rd Pioneer Battalion. He then embarked Melbourne onboard the HMAT Themistocles on the 28th of July 1916.

John arrived in England, and was shipped to France in early November 1916. A few weeks later, he was transferred to the 5th Pioneer Battalion. The Pioneers worked on many jobs in and out of the lines. They were responsible for roads, dugouts, helping to build trenches etc. After a very cold winter, John spent some time in hospital in January 1917. Pioneers were exposed to enemy fire and often participated in attacks as reinforcements. On the 10th of May, John was wounded in action, with a gun shot wound to his right side. He was evacuated to England and admitted to the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital. After he recovered, he was stationed to Perham Downs before going back to France. He served with the Pioneers until the war ended. After hostilities ceased, John injured himself when he fell into a hole whilst on duty, and twisted his knee. Developing synovitis, he was then invalided home on the Shropshire on the 1st of April 1919. When John returned home, a medical examination also found that he had defective hearing as a result of his war service and infected tonsils. He was discharged from military service in mid August, and returned to his civilian life.