Johnno Stuntz

John "Johnno" Stuntz (1884–1917) was an Australian pioneer rugby league footballer and soldier who served in World War I and died on the Western Front. A national and state representative winger, his club career was played with Eastern Suburbs, Western Suburbs and South Sydney in Australia, as well as one season with English club, Warrington.

War service Stuntz enlisted in the first AIF in 1916. He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire in August 1916 as a Private in the 14th reinforcement raised for the 17th Battalion of the 5th Brigade (New South Wales).

In 1917, the 17th Battalion was involved in the attack on German forces after their retreat to the Hindenburg Line. Stuntz was killed by machine-gun fire on 3 May 1917 being the first day of battle of Second Bullecourt. He has no known grave but is commemorated at the Commonwealth Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux. thumb