WORGAN, John Robert

Born at Inverell, John was the eighth of twelve children who lived on the family property at Long Plain, east of Inverell. At the time of his enlistment on 1 February 1916, he was a 22 year old farmer. He was one of the fifty Inverell District men who made up the Second Contingent of The Kurrajongs. During the War, two of John's brothers also enlisted, however they were discharged medically unfit.

John spent several weeks training at the Narrabri Depot Camp, then at Armidale and Rutherford NSW as a member of the 33rd Battalion 4th Reinforcements. They sailed for England from Sydney on the troopship HMAT A30 Borda on 17 October 1916. After further training at Salisbury Plain, England, his Battalion was sent to France in March 1917. Just three months later, on 7 June, John was killed whilst carrying a wounded man to safety during the Battle of Messines.

Private John Worgan was buried at Toronto Avenue Cemetery, Ploegsteert, not far from Messines, in the only all Australian cemetery in Belgium. Locally his name is recorded on the Elsmore Honour Roll and the Inverell Cenotaph. He was one of many for whom a memorial Kurrajong tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade on the Glen Innes Road.

Compiled from Information provided by relatives. Photo: Private collection