John Menzies (31 October 1887 – 14 May 1967) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).Holmesby & Main (2014), p. 604.
Family The son of Andrew Constable Menzies (1858–1939),Deaths: Menzies, The Age, (Saturday, 23 September 1919), p. 15. and Williamina Menzies (1858-1919), née Smith,Deaths: Menzies, The Age, (Thursday, 24 July 1919), p. 1. John Menzies was born at Port Melbourne, Victoria on 31 October 1887.
He married Elsie Louise Martin (1886-1966) on 5 September 1922. They had one child: a daughter, Dorothy Elsie Menzies (1924-2023), later, Mrs. Kenneth David Gould.
Football On 23 April 1913 he was cleared from Port Melbourne to St Kilda.Football, The Argus, (Thursday, 24 April 1913), p.5.
St Kilda (VFL) Menzies made his debut, as the resting forward-pocket rover, for St Kilda, against South Melbourne, at the Lake Oval, on 26 April 1913.The League: South Melb. v. St. Kilda, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Saturday, 26 April 1913), p.8.
Port Melbourne (VFA) On 28 May 1914 Menzies was cleared from St Kilda to Port Melbourne.Victorian Football Association: Permits Granted, The Argus, (Friday, 29 May 1914), p.12. He played in 8 games, at centre half-forward, in the 1914 season, kicking 4 goals.The VFA Project.
Military service He enlisted on 15 September 1914, and served overseas with the Australian Army Medical Corps of the First AIF.Nominal Roll.Embarkation Roll.Football: St. Kilda Club, The Argus, (Thursday, 16 December 1915), p.12. He was wounded twice, in action on 3 May 1915,Nineteenth Casualty List: Wounded: Victoria, The Argus, (Friday, 21 May 1915), p.4.Australian Casualties: 44th List: Victoria: In Hospital England: Previously Reported Wounded, The (Ballarat) Evening Echo, (Saturday, 26 JUne 1915), p.1. and on 21 August 1915Australian Casualties: 86th List Issued: Wounded: Victoria, The Argus, (Tuesday, 5 October 1915), p.5.Australian Casualties: Lists 90 to 94: Victoria: In Hospital: at London, Australian Town and Country Journal, (Wednesday, 20 October 1915), p.16. while serving in the Dardanelles campaign, and returned to Australia on HMAT A29 Suevic, arriving in Melbourne on 5 January 1919.Returned Troops, The Age, (Monday, 6 January 1919), p.6.
Death He died at West Essendon on 14 May 1967.Deaths: Menzies, The Age, (Tuesday, 16 May, 1967), p.18.
Notes
References
First World War Nominal Roll: Private John Menzies (753), collection of the Australian War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Roll: Private John Menzies (753), collection of the Australian War Memorial. First World War Service Record: Private John Menzies (753), collection of the National Archives of Australia.
External links
"Jock" Menzies, at The VFA Project.