War Service
Service Number 1284 Pte John Gordon HUTCHINS enlisted 17 Jul 1915 in the Australian Army, 29th Battalion. On 20 Aug 1915 he sustained an injury at Broadmeadows Camp when on 'fatigue-cook' duties. While putting a log on the fire he had slipped in a hollow, causing damage to the cartilage in his right knee which then locked when he walked. He was discharged as medically unfit on 13 Oct 1915.
Service Number 134 Pte John Gordon HUTCHINS enlisted for a second time on 20 Mar 1916, 1st AIF, 39th Battalion. At the time of enlistment at Ballarat he was aged 22, Iron moulder, Single, NOK Mother, Mrs Charlotte HUTCHINS of 3 Clarendon Street, Ballarat.
Pte HUTCHINS embarked 27 May 1916 Melbourne on Ship Number A11, HMAT Ascanius for England. Places mentioned in his service record are Larkhill, Barton Hospital, No. 1 Company Perham Downs and No. 4 Company Depot Wareham. He attended a course of instruction at the S.C. School of Farriery at Romsey and qualified as a 'Cold Shoer' with the Light Horse and Infantry.
From 3 May 1917 he proceeded overseas, ex 10th Training Battalion Durrington via Folkestone to France. With the 39th Battalion he was marched into Etaples, the principle depot and transit camp for the British Expeditionary Force. It was also a centre for sick and wounded soldiers, prisoners and soldiers training for battle. On 6 Jun 1917 John Gordon Hutchins was wounded in action, a casualty of shell gas poisoning. He was returned to duty in the field and was again wounded, spending time in Field Ambulance Stations and a hospital at Etaples. On 15 Aug 1917 he was transferred to England to No. 2 Company Depot at Weymouth. He returned to Australia 14 Jan 1919 per City of York and was finally discharged on 6 Apr 1919.

Rowing success
(Clarry) Gordon HUTCHINS was a champion rower and Life Member of the Wendouree Rowing Club. He was in many winning crews for Regattas held on Lake Wendouree as documented in The History of Ballarat Regatta Australia's Inland Henley 1862-2002 by Kathryn M Elliott, 2009.
1915 Maiden scull as C HUTCHINS [p124] (The Ballarat Rowing Association's Regatta went into recess for WW1)
1922 Maiden pair L ELLINGSEN, C HUTCHENS and cox J GEROVICH; Junior pair L ELLINGSEN, G HUTCHINS and cox J GEROVICH; Senior scull as C HUTCHINS [p134]
1923 Senior pair F YATES and G HUTCHENS [p136]
1926 Senior eight crew R MERRIMAN, as G HUTCHINGS, R PIERCE, A HALL, S McGORM, F YATES, W TODD, J JOPLING and cox A KING [p143]
1928 Senior four with R MERRIMAN, N WARE, A HALL and G HUTCHINS (stroke) [p153]
1929 Senior pair F YATES and G HUTCHINS (stroke), Senior four R PIERCE, A HALL, F YATES and G HUTCHINS (stroke) [p156]
1932 Senior pair R PIERCE, H HUTCHINS (stroke) and cox L O'BRIEN [p164]
Gordon HUTCHINS was the Umpire for at least these Ballarat Regattas held 1939 (as G HUTCHENS), 1947 [p198], 1948 (a landmark regatta where 18 eights rowed abreast in the Maiden Eights) [p205] and 1949 [p207]

Sarah Myrtle COMMONS b 1894 Ballarat d/o Alfred COMMONS/Susan RUSSELL [Vic 17431]
Sarah Myrtle HUTCHINS d 3 Feb 1972 aged 76 yrs Ballarat d/o Alfred COMMONS/unk [Vic 3703]
Sarah Myrtle HUTCHINS, 76, 4 Clissold Street, Ballarat, Widow, bur 5 Feb 1972 Ballarat New Cemetery [Lawn D 5R6]

Four children of John Gordon HUTCHINS and Sarah Myrtle COMMONS:

1. Alfred Lindsay Gordon HUTCHINS b 11 Dec 1920 Ballarat s/o John Gordon HUTCHINS/Sarah Myrtle COMMONS [Vic 27840] (known as Lindsay)
Alfred Lindsay Gordon HUTCHINS d 9 Nov 1987 aged 66 yrs Melbourne, m 1943 (living) (2 sons)

2. HUTCHINS b 1922 Ballarat (living)

3. Alexander Thomas HUTCHINS b 24 Apr 1924 Ballarat (known as Alex)
Alexander Thomas HUTCHINS d 2 Jan 1992 aged 67 yrs Ballarat, bur 6 Jan 1992 Ballarat New Cemetery.
Alexander Thomas HUTCHINS m 21 Feb 1948 (living) (1 son, 1 dau)

4. John Henry HUTCHINS b 26 Apr 1926 Ballarat (known as Jack)
John Henry HUTCHINS d 12 Dec 1978 aged 52 yrs Ballarat s/o John Gordon HUTCHINS/Sarah Myrtle COMMONS [Vic 28657]
John Henry HUTCHINS m 24 Sep 1949 (living) (2 dau)