John Eckert
John George Eckert
On February 3rd 1916 at the age of 24 John enlisted at Strathalbyn. John disembarked on the 9th-June-1916.
Not long after he disembarked John was admitted to hospital with mumps.John was then transferred to Base Hospital with mumps on July-1st-1916.On the 29th-July-1916 John embarked over seas on “Alexeroria” and was appointed Lance Corporal on the 18th-May 1917. 4 months later John was admitted sick to casualty clearing station. On the 30th-September-1917, John rejoined the 10th Battalion from hospital.
He was later was killed in action on the 1st-October-1917 at ANZAC Ridge on the Ypres salient in the Third Battle of Ypres.
Quotes
Matt Eckert
"After seeing Rhys and Brent commemorate their relatives, I realized this was going to be hard. It felt like any other cemetery until Rod pointed out John George Eckert’s grave. Seeing the name J.G Eckert on a war grave changed me instantly. Telling his story to the group was much harder than I had ever expected. However, to read what he had done during the war was easier than telling the story of his pre-war life. As I spoke about this, I broke. I used myself as an example. He was a young bloke a few years older than I am; he farmed, played footy and then following his mates, signed his life away to the Great War. As I thought of myself, I wondered what he’d thought at the time because I can say there is a lot more out there in the world I have yet to experience. This just made me question why, why, why? I still don’t know but he did it for our country, for me and all Australians: he gave his day 90 years ago for me today".
