John Reginald Storer
| Regimental number | 1047 |
| Place of birth | Enmore, Sydney, New South Wales |
| School | Leichhardt Public School, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Address | 23 Prospect Street, Leichhardt, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 19 |
| Next of kin | Father, William Edgar Storer, 23 Prospect Street, Leichhardt, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Enlistment date | 5 May 1915 |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | 28 April 1915 |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 19th Battalion, C Company |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT Ceramic on 25 June 1915 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 2nd Pioneer Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action 5 October 1918 |
| Age at death | 22 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 22 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, FranceVillers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground (‘Hill 104’) behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The ‘blocking course’ above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys’ school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns. |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial |
173 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records |
Parents: William Edgar and Alice Elizabeth STORER, ‘Camden’, Broadford Street, Bexley, New South Wales |
| Medals | Military Medal
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, especially since Battalion moved to SOMME Area early in April, 1918. During the gas shell bombardment at VILLERS BRETONNEUX on 27th July, 1918, his skilful handling of the platoon whilst under the bombardment and his prompt actions afterwards resulted in the casualties being light. Though badly shaken and weary he took great precaution to minimise the effects of gas, went to a dressing station, found out what to do and applied preventative measures to the platoon. On 8th August, 1918, he showed remarkable courage in working under heavy fire and in making a road reconnaissance. This N.C.O. has been through all forward operations we have been in since April and during operations incidental to capture of MONT ST. QUENTIN he commanded a platoon that did splendid work in repairing forward roads.’
Source: ‘Commonwealth Gazette’ No. 109 Date: 15 September 1919 Bar to Military Medal ‘For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on 8th August 1918 during operations east of Amiens. He reconnoitred the road to Cerisy Gailly moving with the advancing infantry and coming under machine gun and rifle fire, and later he again showed great determination, coolness and devotion to duty in repairing road in vicinity of GAILLY CROSS where he and his party came under shell fire and close enfilade machine gun fire, which played on the road where they were. He showed absolute disregard for danger and by his example kept the men at work on repairs urgently needed so that the 18 pdrs could get forward. In this operation and the operations leading up to it Sergeant Storer has shown unfailing devotion to duty.’
Source: ‘Commonwealth Gazette’ No. 115 Date: 10 October 1919 |
| Family/military connections | Brother: Lt William Edgar STORER, 13th Bn, killed in action, 21 February 1917. |
| Other details | War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western FrontMedals: Military Medal & Bar, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
John Reginald Storer
William Edgar Harold Storer
| Place of birth | Surry Hills, New South Wales |
| School | Leichhardt Public School, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Address | ‘Morvale’, 23 Prospect Street, Leichhardt, Leichhardt, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 23 |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs A E Storer, ‘Morvale’, 23 Prospect Street, Leichhardt, Leichhardt, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Served as Lieutenant in Senior Cadets. |
| Enlistment date | 11 July 1915 |
| Rank on enlistment | 2nd Lieutenant |
| Unit name | 13th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/30/4 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on 16 December 1916 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Lieutenant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 13th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action 21 February 1917 |
| Place of death or wounding | Guedecourt, near Bapaume, France |
| Age at death | 24 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 24 |
| Place of burial | Bancourt British Cemetery (Plot XII, Row A, Grave No. 13), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial |
20 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records |
Commemorated in Woronora Cemetery, New South Wales. (Name on family headstone: W.E. Harry STORER) Parents: William Edgar and Alice Elizabeth STORER. Native of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Family/military connections | Brother: 1047 Sergeant John Reginald STORER MM & Bar, 2nd Pioneer Bn, killed in action, 5 October 1918. |
| Other details | War service: Western FrontMedals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
 William H Storer in Egypt |
Thank you for remembering Great Uncles Harry (William Edgar) and Jack (John Reginald) Storer.
I have just stumbled on your site today and have found the photo of Jack on the donkey, fabulous for the family to
have.
There are a number of the family who have researched ‘the boys’ and this history will be passed on for the
generations .
For your information….the Military Medal + bar (John Reginald Storer) was donated to the Australian War Memorial for all to see.