Alan Cheshyre Janion

Alan Cheshyre Janion (Alan Chester Johnson)

Rank: Private

Service Number: 4817

Units Served: 45th Infantry Battalion

Personal details: Alan was born in Liverpool, England. He went to school in Victoria, British Columbia in Canada and moved to Australia when he was 27 years old. His next in kin was his mother, Annie Janion.
Enlistment Details:  He enlisted for the army on the 18th October 1915 under the name Alan Chester Johnson and his medical examination showed he was:

• Age: 33 years 4 months
• Height: 5 feet 6¾ inches
• Weight: 157 lbs
• Chest Measurement: 32½/37½ inches
• Complexion: Fair
• Eyes: Grey
• Hair Colour: Dark

Details about his role in war: He departed from Australia to Egypt on the 11th of April 1916, 6 months after his enlistment date. Once he reached Egypt he was taken on strength to the 45th Battalion in Alexandria where he did 2 months of training before disembarking to Marseilles. On the 22nd of July 1916, a month later he was absent without leave over night. They found him in the next morning in the troop quarters and he received 7 days F.P. No.2. On the 30th of December 1916, He was injured in battle and went to hospital and he was later admitted with sore feet. On the 14th of January 1917, he left hospital and four days later on the 18th, rejoined the 45th battalion. On the 7th of June 1917, Private Alan Cheshyre Janion was killed in action during the Battle of Messines. This was a major victory despite the loss  of so many men such as Alan, and was brought to the big screen in “Beneath Hill 60” and is also quite extensively described in the book “Somme Mud”.