"Jack" Johan Christian SPORK
Born 26 July 1894 in Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands [16] [33]
Son of Johan Christian SPORK and Maria Magdalena WILD [30: item 8091361] [33]
Initially worked on boats in Rotterdam and later worked on one that came to Western Australia, where he jumped ship [P239]
Arrived on the steamship Mombassa in Bunbury, Western Australia on 14 May 1913 [30: item 1770846]
In 1915 was working as a sawmill hand in Wagin and in 1916 was living at 23 Woolwich Street in the Perth suburb of Leederville [30]
Became a naturalised Australian citizen on 8 July 1916, and in Perth on the same day was passed as fit to enlist in the A.I.F. [30]
Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) at the Blackboy Hill military camp in the Perth hills on 11 July 1916 [30: item 8091361]
On enlistment he was 5 feet 5½ inches tall, weighed 155 pounds, and had blue eyes, fair hair and a fresh complexion [30]
Gave his father Johan Christian SPORK as his next of kin, his address being 225 Breede Hilledyk in Rotterdam, Holland [30]
At Blackboy Hill on 1 November 1916 he was appointed to the 7th Reinforcements of the 51st Battalion [30]
Embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia for active service abroad on the H.M.A.T. A8 Argyllshire on 9 November 1916 [30]
Disembarked in Devonport, England on 10 January 1917 and after further training proceeded to France on 10 April 1917 [30]
Private 2983 in the Australian Imperial Force's 51st Battalion in France during the First World War [30]
Wounded in Action in France on 11 October 1917, and received treatment at a field hospital for a gunshot wound to his knee [30]
Returned to duty in November 1917, however was again Wounded in Action in France on 24 April 1918 [30]
Admitted to a field hospital in France for treatment for a machine gun bullet in his foot, and then invalided back to England [30]
Married Dora Townley RIVETT on 26 December 1918 at Saint Mary's Church in Liscard, Cheshire, England [30] [30: item 8091361]
Along with his wife departed England on the Konigin Luise and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 2 August 1919 [30]
Discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 10 September 1919; received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal [30]
Farmer of Liscard Farm in Carnamah 1921-1929 [P239]
Obtained farmland on the Carnamah Estate in Carnamah through the Repatriation Department's Soldier Settlement Scheme [P239]
In 1920 or early 1921 settled on the farm, which they named Liscard after his wife's native parish in England [P239]
He was the freehold owner of his 1,022 acre farm, which was Victoria Location 7175 on the Carnamah Estate [44] [61]
The farm's sole income was through the growing of wheat, which was undertaken with working horses [P239]
Their transport throughout their time in Carnamah was a horse a cart [P239]
Employed farmhands who resided on the farm, including John BROWN and a man whose first name was Owen [P239] [19]
Signed the petition in February 1923 for the Irwin Licensing Court to grant a hotel license for Carnamah [10: 9-Mar-1923]
Had an account with Carnamah blacksmith, wheelwright and motor mechanics Henry Parkin & Son from 1925 to 1928 [53]
They were good friends with Frances & Harry DUNNING and Rosetta & Walter LOCKWOOD of Carnamah [P239]
In October 1928 a fire started on the railway line and spread to his farm, burning 14 acres of crop before being subdued [4: 3-Nov-1928]
The fire which destroyed 14 acres of crop was the first fire reported for all of the North Midlands for the 1928-29 season [4]
His wife wished to return to England so arrangements were made to sell the farm[P239]
The Irwin Index reported on 10 November 1928 that he'd sold his farm walk in walk out for £4.12.6 per acre [4: 10-Nov-1928]
The buyer was to be F. A. BURDEN of Woodville, South Australia however the sale fell through [3] [4] [P239]
Attended the farewell for Jack & Annie LYNCH at the home of Roger & Margaret CLARK in Carnamah on 6 April 1929 [4: 13-Apr-1929]
As they'd expected to sell the farm no allowances had been made for the next season's crop, on the dawn of the depression [P239]
Won the Married Men's Running Race at the Centenary Celebrations in Carnamah on 13 September 1929 [4: 21-Sep-1929]
They walked off the farm in Carnamah later in 1929 and shifted to the Perth suburb of Maylands [P239]
Initially they resided in a rented house in Maylands and later in their own home in Peninsula Road, Maylands [P239]
To begin with he was unemployed and did some sustenance work before securing a job with the Water Supply Department [P239]
He remained the owner of his farm until 1933, however the Carnamah District Road Board didn't have his address to send rates to [3]
His farmland in Carnamah was forfeited on 25 August 1933 and was subsequently re-sold to William M. NEWMAN of Carnamah [3]
Enlisted in the Australian Army on 20 May 1940 [16]
Sapper W235111 in the Australian Army's 7 Workshop and Park Coy RAE during the Second World War [16]
During a portion of the Second World War he served with the Australian Army in South Australia [P239]
Besides his time in the Australian Army he worked for the Water Supply Department until his retirement [P239]
Resided with his wife at their home in Peninsula Road in the Perth suburb of Maylands until his death in 1968 [P239]
Father of two daughters named Dora, a son Jack and daughter Joan [P239]
Died 20 February 1968; ashes interred at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Western Australia (Lawn 2, Niche Wall, W1, 1) [2]
Photograph taken by Dease Studios in Perth; courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia, 108410PD [P1]
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Johan Christian Spork' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 15 November 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/johan-christian-spork [reference list] |
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