John Thomas Sharland

Driver, Australian Army Service Corps

John Thomas Sharland was a student at Alleyn’s until 1890 and lived at 2 Maude Road, Camberwell with his parents, John and Mary. After leaving school, he decided to move abroad to Australia where found work as Job Master in Melbourne. John was still living abroad when war broke out in August 1914 and he decided to join the war effort as part of the Australian Imperial Force. After being attested, John joined 23^rd Company in December 1915. During his time with the AASC, he saw action on the Eastern and Western Front. He served in Egypt from December 1915 until February 1916 and France from November 1916 until June 1917. In June, John was was hospitalised due to having oedema of the legs which had caused him a significant amount of pain and discomfort on active service. This condition saw him transferred back to England in October 1917 and he was later declared as medically unfit for service. John returned to Melbourne in January 1918 and was honourably discharged from the AASC in February 1918. For his wartime service he received the 1914-15 Star and the British War and Victory Medal.