SOMERVILLE, John

  1. Service Details
  2. Personal Details
  3. Unit and Rank Details
  4. Notes
  5. Sources

Service Details

Branch of Service
Army
Conflict
World War II (1939-1945)
Date of Enlistment
14/07/1942
Date of Discharge
10/12/1945
Place of Enlistment
Operational Station, Papua

Personal Details

Gender
Male
Other Name(s)
Known as Jack and nicknamed 'Slim'
Date of Birth
16/04/1914
Place of Birth
Glasgow, Scotland
Address (at enlistment)
Anzac Park, Reid ACT
Occupation
Public servant
Next of Kin
Zoe Somerville (wife), Anzac Park, Reid ACT

Unit and Rank Details

Service Number
NX128774, N42909
Final Rank
Captain
Final Unit
2/2 Battalion

Notes

Somerville arrived in Canberra in 1934 and worked for the Department of Trade and Customs. By the time he was marched into camp with 3 Battalion on 1 October 1941, Somerville was in his third year of a university degree in Commerce. He married Zoe Littlechild at St. John's Church in Reid on 21 February 1942 and was sent to Papua with 3 Battalion in May 1942. Like dozens of other men in 3 Battalion, Somerville contracted measles but recovered in time to join his unit on the Kokoda track in September 1942 with the rank of a temporary Captain. The 3rd Battalion fought the Japanese at Ioribaiwa and Imita ridges and then patrolled forward through Nauro, Menari and Kagi. In October they encountered the Japanese at Templetons Crossing and a few weeks later at Oivi and then Gona on the north coast of Papua. After 3 Battalion was disbanded in 1943, Somerville served with 2/3 Battalion and 2/2 Battalion. He was sent to Aitape in New Guinea at the end of 1944, but returned to Australia shortly after and served as Adjutant at a staff camp near Strathpine in Queensland.

After the war he resumed his public service career, completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Canberra University CollegeĀ and he and his wife raised their family in Reid but later moved to Red Hill. Involved in a number of community organisations throughout his life, Jack Somerville died suddenly in London on 29 October 1989 and after a funeral service at St. John's he was cremated at Norwood Park.

Description - height 5 feet 10.5 inches, grey eyes, fair complexion, brown hair.

Sources

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Stand-to: Journal of the Australian Capital Territory Branch, RSSAILA. vol.1, Feb 1950 (p.24)
AWM Collections Record : P01384.001
The Canberra Times - 11 July 1940, 1 August 1940, 25 February 1942, 15 January 1943, 26 March 1947, 21 March 1950, 1 November 1989, 6 November 1989
NAA RecordSearch - Series B883

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Officers of 3 Battalion c1938. Somerville is sixth from the left. AWM image P01384.001.

Officers of 3 Battalion c1938. Somerville is sixth from the left. AWM image P01384.001.

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