AIRD John Gray

John Gray Aird was born near Northumberland England in 1896. NOTE. John`s records show two enlistment forms. The second form shows his birth place as near South Shields,in the county of Durham,England. He attended Northumberland Rockcliffe school before moving to Australia with his parents John and Mary (nee Willets) Aird.

His enlistment papers make note that John had been in the Citizen Forces 1st Field Art. Brigade. On 26th January 1915 John enlisted, taking the oath in Brisbane after which he was in the 1896 Trainee 2nd Battery AFA. His unit was 1 Divisional Ammunition Column, Reinforcements 1-11. He left Australia on the HMAT Medic on 2nd June 1915. He saw service in Gallipoli before shipping on the Horarata to Alexandria where he was transfered to the 4th Div. Arty. at Tel-el-Kebir in January 1916. In March that year he was posted to HaGia (FABde) at Tel-el-Kebir. He was shipped aboard the Haverford for Marseilles in June 1916 when he was transferred to the 44th Battery in August.

On 31st July 1917 John was wounded in action(gassed) on the Yser Canal, Belgium. He was sent to 12th General Hospital at Rouen, France, on 12th August and from there to Bath War Hospital England. In September he departed Weymouth aboard the Berrima. On arrival in Australia he was discharged - defective vision. He was awarded the Star (1914-15), British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.

John married Gladys Maud Manning Reading (Qld 1928B4623) and the couple lived in Alderley Brisbane. John`s parents who had been living in Central Ave Indooroopilly at the time of his enlistment, were by this time living in the Nambour area of Qld. John investmented in property in Noosa which eventually, due to unemployment, led to his being declared bankrupt. His occupation was a builder.

John, late of Cole St Alderley, died on 7th February 1952 (Courier Mail 9th February 1953 P10) and was taken to the Mt. Thompson Crematorium (Courier Mail, 9th February 1952 P12). His wife survived him.

• Belguim
• Egypt
• Gallipoli

Queenslanders who fought in the Great War 1914-1918€ by Owen Wildman, ISBN: 978 1 920978 34 1