John was born to William Eady and his wife Sarah formerly Hutchinson at Zeehan, when it was a frontier town sustained by the mineral boom. John was one of a large family of 11 surviving children.
By the time he enlisted in January 1917, William and Sarah were living at Evandale. While John stated that he had not done an apprenticeship it was likely that he learnt the trade of blacksmithing at the hand of his father.
With such a large family and being mostly boys, the law of averages would suggest that at least a couple of sons would enlist. Albert James Eady was the first in the family to enlist on 19 September 1914, serving first with the 12th Battalion and later transferring to the 26th Battalion. After being wounded in action he returned to Australia in November 1917. William enlisted next in March 1916 and was allotted to the 26th Battalion. He returned to Australia in December 1918.
On 8 January 1917 John went to Launceston and presented himself for enlistment. John was now 20 years of age. He embarked for overseas on 14 June 1917, but within a few weeks was in trouble for the first time. Over the next twelve months Private John Eady spent much of his time in the AIF either in hospital receiving treatment for an eye problem or in trouble. He was returned to Australia in January 1918 and finally discharged on 4 June, the same year.
Following his discharge John Eady married Ada Louise Williamson. They had two children – Clement and Frances. By 1936 the family had moved from Launceston to Main Road, New Town where John was working as a labourer. He was still living at New Town when he died on 9 May 1966.
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