Patrick GOOLEY
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4781), Patrick Gooley was born at Burrowa, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 43 years and 6 months, his marital status as married, and his occupation as contractor. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was 5 feet 8 inches tall, weight 11 stone 11 lbs., with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had no previous military service.
Gooley was reported in the Wellington Times as one of the men who enlisted with the Coo-ees at Wellington.[2]
He completed his medical examination at Wellington on 16th October 1915 (the day the Coo-ees arrived at Wellington). He was attested by Captain T. A. Nicholas at Stuart Town on 20th October 1915 (the day the Coo-ees marched from Stuart Town to Euchareena).
After the Coo-ee March he went into Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On 4th January 1916 Private Gooley was charged with being absent without leave from 16th December 1915 to 17th December 1915, and from 20th December 1915 to 3rd January 1916. He was fined 10 shillings, and forfeited 12 days pay.
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was 56 George Street, Bathurst, N.S.W., and his next of kin was listed as his wife, Mrs C. Gooley, Glanmere [sic], via Bathurst, N.S.W.
On 8th March 1916 Private Gooley departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, along with many of the other Coo-ees, with the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion.
Troopship HMAT A15 Star of England. Australian War Memorial Collection AWM H17014.
He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.
On 19th April 1916 he was transferred to the 45th Battalion in Egypt.
On 2nd June 1916 Private Gooley left Alexandria aboard the transport Kinfauns Castle bound for France. He arrived at Marseilles on 8th June 1916.
Private Gooley served with the 45th Battalion through its first action at Fleurbaix, France in July 1916 then through the battles around Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in August, September and October 1916.
On 29th November 1916 he was detached for duty with the Australian Army Service Corps.
He went on leave from France on 29th August 1917 to 8th September 1917.
Private Gooley served with the 26th Australian Army Service Corps until he re-joined the 45th Battalion on 7th October 1918.
On 17th October 1918 he was sent to the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Harve, France, for a Medical Board, where he was classed as having senility.
On 31st October 1918 he was transferred to England.
On 1st November 1918 he marched into the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.
On 4th December 1918 Private Gooley departed England aboard the H.M.A.T. Somerset, bound for Australia for medical discharge.
He arrived in Australia on 16th January 1919.
He was discharged from the A.I.F. medically unfit on 4th February 1919.
[1] NAA: B2455, GOOLEY P
[2] HITCHEN’S COO-EES. (1915, October 18). Wellington Times (NSW : 1899 – 1954), p. 3. Retrieved March 11, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143388424
1915 Coo-ee March 