FENNELL John "Jack"

John Fennell known as Jack was born about September in 1884 at Alvington in Devon, England and was known as Jack by Gnowangerup residents. His father was William, perhaps he was deceased at the time when Jack enlisted on the 20 January 1916, as his mother Mrs J. Fennell of Penola, South Australia was listed as his next of kin. Jack was a single labourer who had attended joinery school and gave his address is Gnowangerup and he embarked aboard the HMAT Shropshire on the 31 of March 1916. He was mentioned in dispatches reported in the London Gazette number 31 448 and the Commonwealth Gazette No. 124 on 30 October 1919 “At Bullecourt he bought in wounded from no man's land under heavy barrages”.  Jack was in the same Refs unit as Clarence Bickford Bell and David Baines, who were both killed in action.

ANNIE FENNELL nee Crackell AGED  90            #1
 

Jack married Annie Crackell in 1919 after his discharge from the 48th Battalion of the AIF., World War 1..   Annie was born in 1888 in Sheffield, England. Her mother was Elizabeth Crackell nee Lee who was a widow, came out to Australia with her brother Fred Lee senior, with her three young children. Annie who was 19 years old and two younger brothers Harry and Percy. They first settled in Broomehill and moved shortly afterwards to Gnowangerup. She had been working in Gnowangerup for her uncle Mr .Fred Lee in his general grocery store which was where the Economic Store was next to the Memorial Hall and in G. H. Bennett's bakers shop. Jack and Annie had three children Sheila (Mrs. William Gaze), Edna (Mrs. Haynes), and Leonard who became a jeweler in Denmark.  

She lived her whole life in Gnowangerup where her friends could be numbered as the whole population of the district. An active and interested citizen, she was a member of esteem in the Methodist Church, C.W.A. and later the recently formed Autumn Club. The card game of bridge was one of her most enjoyed recreations. Sadly Annie past away on 7th February 1984 aged 95.

Jack was a member of the VDC in Gnowangerup during WWII.  He died in Gnowangerup in 1962 at the age of 77 and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References:                 Article:      Gnowangerup Star Newspaper

                                  Image:    1     Gnowangerup Star Newspaper

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024