John Scales

34Worked on a tugboat at Rockhampton. He was an engineer and is believed to have worked at the railway loco sheds, Darwin before he enlisted. Marriage in Queensland 1912/C1999 Daly Kathleen Manners Jack Daniel, 14 December 1912. His first wife's address was 9 St. Peter's Ave, Cleethorpe, Grimsby, England. He had three children in England aged 10, 8 and 6 in 1918. He had one child from his second marriage, Alan Daly Manners, born in 1912. His medals, Memorial scroll and plaque were sent to his first wife. One of these medals was auctioned in Queensland in 2008.Scales embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A33 'Ayrshire' on 1 September 1915. He joined the unit at Alexandria 8 January 1916. Wounded in action, gunshot wound in foot, 27 July 1916. Died of Pneumonia, 9 January 1917. A private letter has been received by, H.E. Carey, Esq., from a young, lady in England, giving details of the death at Standish Red Cross Hospital, near Bristol, on January 9th, of Pte. John Manners Scales, who was formerly in the Government employ, in Darwin, and was among the first to volunteer for service at the front. The story as told in this letter is a rather sad one. The writer mentions, among other things: "Mr. Scales "talked" to me very much about a "friend" he was very, intimate with in Australia." I only, know his Christian name (Jim). He was killed at the front, and Mr. Scales felt the loss of his friend very much, as he "had worked under him at a business." This allusion is interesting, because the "Jim" referred, to was presumably the late Jim Cain, who was killed on the Western front about a year ago. Pte. J. M, Scales was a member of the Second Div. of the A.I.F., and was 34 years of age. After service in Egypt he was transferred to France and was wounded in the foot at the battle of the Somme. He made a good recovery, and was given leave at Christmas. But whilst away he caught a chill, double pneumonia supervened, he was readmitted to the Hospital, where he died a few days later. He was accorded a military funeral, of which the local paper published a long account under the heading "A Brave Anzac". The service was of an impressive character. The funeral procession was headed by a firing party of V.T.C. from Stroud. The coffin was enveloped in the Union Jack and bore the deceased?s cap. Australian soldiers acted as pall bearers. The funeral procession comprised the nursing staff, wounded Anzac comrades, and a numerous attendance of the general public. A firing party fired the usual three volleys and a wounded soldier, accompanied by two boy scouts, sounded "The Last Post". The coffin bore a number of beautiful floral tributes inscribed: A token of gratitude to Australia for standing by the Empire; In memory of one of our brave Australians, from Mrs. E.D. Farran and Mr. E. Jenner Davies; from Sister Hunter and the Nurses in Ward 2, with deepest regret and sorrow; From the Boys at Standish Red Cross Hospital; from Mrs. John W. Audrey, "Kings Hall; With deepest sympathy, from his sweetheart, Daisy; From Miss King (Commandant); In deepest sympathy, from two of the maids of Hawards End, A. Preston and J. Parnell. The nurses and soldiers collected among themselves sufficient money to erect a stone over the grave. The deceased was buried in a beautiful little Churchyard at Standish, two miles from the hospital. In conclusion we quote the following from the private letter above referred to "He was a beautiful character, and was respected by many, which was proved by the large gathering of friends at the church."EngineerAustralian Imperial Force9th Battalion, 9th Reinforcemen