Bulli's John Croft was saved from almost certain death at Gallipoli by his pocket book. On April 25, 1915, the pocket book was pierced by a Turkish bullet which had penetrated John's arm and then lodged in the book.

The bullet passed through his arm, which slowed it down, and fortunately for John, the bullet was stopped by his pocket book - a gift from his friends - before reaching his heart.

Later, in letters home, Croft noted he had been on the shore only seven hours before being hit.

Talking about the landing, he wrote of seeing his mates being shot and of being peppered with shrapnel.

In fact, John's arm had been so badly damaged that there was talk of him returning to Australia.

However, he was moved to another hospital where he underwent surgery to fix his arm and was able to continue his service with the 3rd Battalion.

After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt and in March 1916, it sailed for France and the Western Front.

From then until 1918 the battalion took part in operations against the German Army, principally in the Somme Valley in France and around Ypres in Belgium.

The battalion's first major action in France was at Pozières on the Somme in July 1916.

According to the Australian War Museum, it was during this battle that John's luck ran out. He received a severe gunshot wound and was evacuated by ambulance train.

This time, sadly, he did not recover and died on board the hospital ship St George, crossing from France to England. He was 25 years old.

Although he was initially listed as being buried at sea, he was taken ashore and buried at Netley Military Cemetery, in the UK.