John Foster Gear MC (SN 2040) was born in Adelaide SA but moved to Ballarat where he attended the Humffray Street and Golden Point State Schools and Ballarat High School. At the time of his enlistment on June 14th 1915 he was single, 20 years old and attending School of Mines as a student. He left Australia in August to serve as a Lieutenant in the 24th Infantry Battalion.
He was awarded the Military Cross, and a Mention in Despatches for outstanding bravery under fire during his action at Villers Bretonneux, France, on July 4th 1918. His citation reading: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in charge of the brigade sniping section during an attack. He personally supervised the placing of his snipers on the whole brigade front, and throughout the day kept improving their positions. Under heavy fire he carried out a reconnaissance in No Man's Land in order to secure more efficient fire for some of his section, and throughout the operations maintained the superiority of fire over the enemy.'
On October 5th 1918, in what proved to be the last major Australian action of the war, Gear was killed in action during the liberation of Montbrehain. He was 24 years of age and is buried in the Ramicourt British Cemetery, France.
Photo: John Gear (left) and Clifford Ellis (right) Armentieres, France. c. 1916-05