Tag Archives: Menin Gate Memorial

Thomas JACKSON

Posted on July 4, 2015 | Leave a comment

Thomas JACKSON

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4816), Thomas Jackson was born at Longford, Derby, Derbyshire, England. He gave his age as 32 years and 2 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 5 ½ inches tall, weight 146 lbs., with a fair complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had no previous military service.

Thomas Jackson had come to Australia about 1911, when he was 28 years of age.[1] The Wellington Times recorded “Jackson” as one of the four recruits who stepped forward offering to join the Coo-ee March when the Coo-ees recruited at Geurie on 15th October 1915.[2]

He completed his medical on the 16th October 1915 at Wellington, and was attested at Dripstone by Captain Nicholas on the 19th October 1915.

After completing the march he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On 2nd February 1916 Private Jackson was charged with being Absent Without Leave for one day. He was fined one days forfeiture of pay.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Longford, near Derby, England, and his next of kin is listed as his mother, Mrs L. [Louisa] Jackson, Longford, near Derby, England.

On 8th March 1916 Private Jackson along with many of the other Coo-ees departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, and arrived in Egypt on the 11th April 1916.

On the 3rd of May 1916 Private JACKSON was hospitalised at the 31st General Hospital at Port Said sick. He was discharged to duty on 2nd June 1916.

Private Jackson proceeded overseas to join his unit in France [date and ship unknown], via England, leaving the 4th Training Battalion at Rollestone on 30th July 1916. He marched into the 4th Division Base Depot at Etaples in France on 1st August 1916. On 19th August 1916 he was taken on strength of the 13th Battalion whilst it was resting at Pernois, after just coming out of the line at Pozieres.

On 25th September 1916 whilst the 13th Battalion was in action in the vicinity of Voormezeele, Belgium, Private Jackson was admitted to the 12th Australian Field Ambulance suffering from Enteritis. He rejoined the Battalion on the 1st of October 1916.

On 11th April 1917 Private Jackson was with the 13th Battalion when it launched an unsuccessful attack on the Hindenburg Line in the vicinity of Bullecourt, France. During this attack Private Jackson was wounded in action, receiving shrapnel wounds to his face and neck. He was evacuated to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station. On 13th April he was admitted to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen. On 14th April he was admitted to the 2nd Convalescent Depot at Rouen. On 21st April he was discharged and sent to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. On 30th April 1917 he rejoined the 13th Battalion whilst the Battalion was conducting training at Ribemont, France.

On 28th May 1917 Private Jackson was charged with being Absent Without Leave from Tattoo roll call on 24th May 1917 from 9.00 pm to 9.45 pm whilst the Battalion was in training. He was fined one days pay.

On 16th June 1917 Private Jackson was with the 13th Battalion when it was manning support trenches in the vicinity of Messines, Belgium. Private Jackson was one of two men killed from the 13th Battalion that day. Another five men were wounded.

Per his service record he was “buried N. of Hill 63 and about 250 yds N.E. of thatched cottage and about 100 yds West of above, close to Old Dugouts of support trench 1 ¾ mls S.S.W of Messines France”. However, Private Jackson’s grave could not be located after the war, and his name is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ieper (Ypres), Belgium.

T. Jackson's name on the Menin Gate Memorial (Photograph: S. & H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

T. Jackson’s name on the Menin Gate Memorial (Photograph: S. & H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

Private Jackson’s name is commemorated on panel 69 on the Australian War Memorial First World War Roll of Honour.

His name is also remembered on the St. Chad’s Church War Memorial, at Longford in Derbyshire, England.[3]

[1] Thomas Jackson, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour Circular, https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1643701/

[2] ‘Hitchen’s Coo-ees’, Wellington Times, 18 October 1915, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143388423

[3] ‘Thomas Jackson’, Longford St. Chad’s Church War Memorial, Derbyshire, England, http://www.militaryimages.net/media/longford-church-war-memorial-derbyshire.57565/

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Harry DAVENPORT (aka Harry SWENDSON)

Posted on December 21, 2014 | Leave a comment

Harry DAVENPORT (Harry SWENDSON)

Harry Davenport (Photograph courtesy of Dave Murray)

Harry Davenport (Photograph courtesy of Dave Murray)

Per his Attestation paper on military service record (Lieutenant), Harry Davenport, with a note ‘true name Harry Swendson’, was born at Toronto, Canada. He gave his age as 41 years, his marital status as widower, and his occupation as Billiard Table Proprietor. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 10 5/8 inches tall, weight 168 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was written as ‘none’. He claimed that he had no previous military service. He stated that he was a member of the Wongarbon Rifle Club.

The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate reported on 29th October 1915 (p. 4) that ‘H. Davenport’ was one of the Wongarbon boys who had joined the Coo-ees.

According to an article in The Farmer and Settler on 19th October 1915 (p. 3), thirteen men stepped forward and gave their name, ‘either to march under Captain Nicholas, or to come after harvest’, when the Coo-ees recruited in Wongarbon on 14th October 1915.

It appears Harry Davenport was one of these men, but he needed time to get his affairs in order, as he did not join the Coo-ees until the 24th October 1915 at Orange, where he undertook his medical examination, and was attested by Captain T. A. Nicholas. A note on the top of his Attestation paper in his service record said he ‘presented at Orange 24/10/15’.  His original Application to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force form, addressed to the Recruiting Officer at Orange, gave his postal address as ‘Wongarbon’.

After completing the march he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion. During this time he was reported in The Farmer and Settler on 5th January 1916 (p. 3) as being a platoon sergeant in E Company, which consisted of many of the Coo-ees.

On his Application for a commission in the Australian Imperial Forces form dated 10th July 1916 in his service record he stated previous military experience of 7 years with the Vancouver Rifle Club in Canada, and being with the Wongarbon Rifle Club since July 1914. For education qualifications he stated he attended Central High School Toronto, Ont., Canada, and Wentworth Military Academy in Missouri U.S.A. Also recorded is “Sergt. “C” Coy 13th Battalion Kiama”. He gave his date of birth on this form as 31st March 1874, and his age as 42 years and 3 months. He gave his next of kin as daughter, Vieve Gwen Davenport, 324 Michigan Ave., Chicago, U.S.A. His religion is noted as Church of England on this form.

Private Davenport was sent to the A.I.F. Officers Training School at Duntroon where he trained to be an officer. On the 25th July 1916 he was appointed a Second Lieutenant.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was 493 Dowling Street, Moore Park, Sydney, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as a friend, Miss F. Pole-Hore, 493 Dowling Street, Moore Park, Sydney, N.S.W.

On the 8th November 1916 Second Lieutenant Davenport departed Sydney as part of the 22nd reinforcement for the 4th Infantry Battalion aboard the SS Port Nicholson. 

He arrived at Devonport in England on 10th January 1917. He marched into the 1st Training Battalion at Durrington the same day.

On the 18th June 1917 Second Lieutenant Davenport departed England for France, arriving at the 1st Division Base Depot at Le Harve on 20th June 1917.

On 11th July 1917 Second Lieutenant Davenport left Le Harve to join the 4th Battalion. He marched in on 15th July 1917 whilst the Battalion was conducting training in the Bray Sur Somme area of France.

On the 16th July 1917 he was promoted to Lieutenant.

Less than three months after his arrival in France, on 4th October 1917 Lieutenant Davenport was wounded in action, being shot in the chest, while the 4th Battalion was engaged in an attack at Broodseinde Ridge, Belgium.  He was evacuated to an Aid Post, but died of his wounds prior to arrival.

He was buried on Broodenside Ridge, however his grave marker was destroyed in further fighting.

Lieutenant Davenport has no known grave, and is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ieper (Ypres), Belgium.

Swendson H. (served as Davenport H.) name in Lieutenant section on 4th Bn. Australian Infantry Battalion panel at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper (Ypres), Belgium (Photograph: H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

Swendson H. (served as Davenport H.) name in Lieutenant section on 4th Bn. Australian Infantry Battalion panel at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper (Ypres), Belgium (Photograph: H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

His name is also listed on the Wongarbon Soldiers Memorial, and the Atchison County WWI Memorial Honor Roll at Atchison, Kansas.

Harry Davenport appears to have had a few mysteries in his past. It is not known exactly when he arrived in Australia, but he is reported in an article in The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate on 12th February 1915 (p. 2) as having purchased a billiard room, fruit and tobacconist’s shop in Wongarbon.

According to correspondence from Harry Augustus Swendson’s family in Harry Davenport’s service record, his family had no knowledge of Harry Davenport marrying, or having a daughter. His family had received letters (addressed from H. Davenport) and a photograph from him in his AIF uniform while he was overseas on active service before he was killed.

According to an article titled ‘Lt. Harry Swendson’ on the Shawnee County Casualties in WWI web page http://www.shawneeww1.info/stories/storiesSwendson.html, his actual date of birth was 31st March 1880, not 31st March 1874 as he claimed in his AIF service record, which would have made him only 35 years of age when he joined the Coo-ee March, not 41 years as he claimed. He was also actually born at Hawthorn, Atchison County, Kansas, not Toronto, Canada, as he had claimed on his application papers.

He is noted on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site as being the son of S. and Sarah A. Swendson, a native of Hawthorn, Kansas, U.S.A., and being aged 35 years when he died.

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Darcy KEATING

Posted on December 1, 2014 | Leave a comment

Darcy KEATING

Per his military service record (regimental no. 384), Darcy Keating was born at Warren, N.S.W. He gave his age as 21 years and 6 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as laborer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 8 inches tall, weight 11 stone 13 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and fair hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had no previous military service. He completed his medical on the 16th October 1915 at Wellington (while the Coo-ees were in Wellington), and was attested at Mumbil on the 19th October 1915 by Captain Nicholas.

After completing the march he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 1st Light Horse Regiment. Shortly after he was transferred to the Cyclist Training Battalion as reinforcement for the 1st Anzac Cyclist Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Chester Street, Warren, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as father, T. Keating, Chester Street, Warren, N.S.W.

On 3rd May 1916 Private Keating departed Sydney on the HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray, arriving in Egypt on the 13th June 1916. On the 5th July 1916 he was taken on strength of the 1st Division Base Depot at Tel El Kebir.

On the 1st August 1916 Private Keating departed Alexandria for England aboard the HMT Lake Manitoba. Private Keating marched into the Pioneer Training Battalion at Parkhouse, England, on the 19th August 1916. On the 7th September 1916 Private Keating was transferred to the 1st Training Battalion at Perham Downs, England.

On the 8th of October 1916 Private Keating departed England for France. Private Keating marched into the 1st Division Base Depot at Etaples on the 9th October 1916. On the 29th October 1916 Private Keating left Etaples to join the 4th Australian Infantry Battalion, marching in on the 5th November 1916 whilst the Battalion was in the trenches at Deville Wood, France.

On the 6th May 1917 when the Battalion was engaged in action at Bullecourt, France, Private Keating received a gun shot wound to his neck and left hand. He was evacuated to the 5th Field Ambulance, then on the 7th May he was sent to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station, and on the 8th May he was sent back to the 3rd General Hospital at Le Treport, France. On the 14th May 1916 he was transferred to the 3rd Convalescent Depot. On the 7th May 1916 Private Keating marched into the 1st Division Base Depot. On 21st June 1917 he marched out to rejoin his Battalion, arriving on the 26th June 1917 whilst the 4th Battalion was training at Buire, France.

On the 15th July 1917 Private Keating was promoted to Lance Corporal. On the 11th September 1917 Lance Corporal Keating was detached from the Battalion for duty with the C.R.E. He rejoined the Battalion on the 19th September 1917.

On the 4th October 1917 the Battalion was engaged in an attack at Broodseinde Ridge, Belgium. During this battle Lance Corporal Keating went missing in action. A Court of Enquiry later declared him killed in action, on 16th March 1918.

Lance Corporal Keating has no known grave and his name is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ieper (Ypres), Belgium.

KEATING D. on on 4th Battalion panel [near bottom of left row in Lance Corporal section] at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper (Ypres), Belgium (Photograph: H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

KEATING D. on on 4th Battalion panel [near bottom of left row in Lance Corporal section] at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper (Ypres), Belgium (Photograph: H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

Darcy Keating’s name is also listed on the Warren War Memorial.

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Patrick Joseph O’LOUGHLIN (O’LOUGHLEN)

Posted on November 30, 2014 | Leave a comment

Patrick Joseph O’LOUGHLIN (O’LOUGHLEN)

Per his initial military service record (Depot), Patrick O’Loughlin was born at Ballyvaugan, County Clare, Ireland. He gave his age as 27 years and 8 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as laborer. His description on his medical was height 6 feet tall, weight 13 stone, with a medium complexion, light brown eyes, and black hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He completed his medical at Molong on 22nd October 1915, and was attested by Captain Nicholas at Molong (8 miles east) on the 22nd October 1915. He claimed to have no previous military experience.

The postal address he gave on his initial Application to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force form at Molong on 22nd October 1915 was Tattersalls Hotel, Gilgandra N.S.W.

It was reported in The Western Champion (21/10/1915, p. 19) that the Parkes Recruiting Association had held a recruiting meeting ‘for the purpose of enrolling recruits who were willing to join the volunteers now on the way, by road, from Gilgandra to Sydney’, and that ‘five men had mounted the lorry in response to the appeal’, and that ‘one of them went on to Dubbo’, with the remaining four planning to proceed to Molong to join the contingent. Patrick O’Loughlin was one of the four recruits sent by the Parkes Recruiting Association to join the Coo-ees at Molong.

The Gilgandra Weekly newspaper reported on 3 December 1915 (p. 10) that O’Loughlin had enlisted at Parkes, and joined the Coo-ee March at Molong, and had said that “a mate of mine told me that the Mayor of Parkes was offering £5 to every man who would join the Coo-ees’ march. I went in search of the Mayor and found him at the Parkes railway station. I asked him if what I had been told was true, and he said Yes, I am giving five pounds to every man who joins the Coo-ees from Parkes, and passes the medical man with the route march. He then paid my train fare to Molong, and I caught the train and joined the Coo-ees at Molong.”

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion. However on the 17th November 1915 Private O’Loughlin went before a Medical Board where they recommended his discharge due to Varicose Veins. On the 29th November 1915 Private O’Loughlin was discharged as medically unfit.

In the official correspondence of the march held in the Mitchell Library collection, there is a receipt for £5 made out to P. O’Loughlin dated 16th November 1915 with note ‘Parkes townspeoples honorarium’, and an undated letter from O’Loughlin addressed to Mr A. H.Miller, Secretary of the Gilgandra Recruitment Association, about his non-payment after he was discharged, which had his address at the time listed as being Millthorpe Grand Western Hotel.

A year after his initial enlistment in the Coo-ee March, he re-enlisted at Dubbo Military Camp under the name of Patrick Joseph O’Loughlin, with regimental no. 7048, on the 27th October 1916. He completed (and passed) his medical, and was attested, that same day. He gave his age as 28 years and 8 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as laborer. His description on his medical this time was a height of 6 feet 0 ¾ inches, weight 172 lbs, with a fair complexion, brown eyes, and black hair.

On the 3rd November 1916 Private O’Loughlin was transferred from Dubbo Depot Batalion to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 3rd Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was P.O., Dubbo, N.S.W, and his next of kin is listed as mother, Mrs M. O’Brien, Corkscrew Hill, Bally Vaughan, Clare, Ireland.

On the 9th November 1916 Private O’Loughlin departed Sydney on the HMAT A24 Benalla, arriving at Devonport, England, on the 9th January 1917, marching into the 1st Training Battalion at Durrington.

On the 16th May 1917 Private O’Loughlin was charged with being Absent Without Leave from reville on the 30th April, till apprehended by the Military Police at Waterford at 8.30 pm on the 7th May 1917. He was also charged with attempting to escape from escort by jumping from a train whilst in motion. He was awarded 14 days Field Punishment number two and forfeiture of 30 days pay and spent eight days in custody awaiting trial.

On the 14th June 1917 Private O’Loughlin marched out of the 1st Training Battalion and departed for France from Southampton. On the 15th June 1917 Private O’Loughlin marched into the 1st Division Base Depot at Le Havre. On the 28th June 1917 he departed the 1st Division Base Depot and marched into the 3rd Battalion on the 3rd July 1917 whilst it was conducting training in the vicinity of Mesnil, France.

On the 18th September 1917 the 3rd Battalion was at Dickebusch, near Ypres, in Belgium, when Private O’Loughlin was killed in action, only three months after arriving at the Western Front.

Private O’Loughlin has no known grave, and is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ieper (Ypres), Belgium, under the name O’LOUGHLEN P. J.

 

O’Loughen J P on 3rd Battalion Australian Infantry panel [third row in centre on right] at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper, Belgium (Photograph: H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

O’Loughlen P. J. on 3rd Battalion Australian Infantry panel [name in centre of the row on the right] at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper, Belgium (Photograph: H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

His name is recorded as Patrick Joseph O’LOUGHLEN on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour database.

Patrick O’Loughlin’s name is also recorded on the Coo-ee March Memorial Gateway at Molong as one of the five men from Molong who joined the Coo-ee March on 22nd October 1915.

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Alan Chesher JOHNSON (Alan Cheshyre JANION)

Posted on November 23, 2014 | Leave a comment

Alan Chesher JOHNSON (Alan Cheshyre JANION)

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4817), Alan Chesher (or Chester) Johnson was born at Liverpool, England. He gave his age as 33 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as laborer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 6 ¾ inches tall, weight 151 lbs., with a fair complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had no previous military service. He completed his medical on the 16th October 1915 at Wellington (while the Coo-ees were in Wellington), and was attested at Dripstone on the 19th October 1915 by Captain Nicholas.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was 50A Young Street, Redfern, Sydney, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as friend, A. Hunter, 50A Young Street, Redfern, Sydney, N.S.W. (Miss A. Hunter was the sister and NOK of William Emmerton Hunter, who also joined the Coo-ees at Wellington, and embarked on the same ship).

Private Johnson departed Sydney on the HMAT Star of England along with many of the Coo-ees on the 8th March 1916. He arrived in Egypt on the 11th April 1916. On the 19th April 1916 he transferred to the 45th Battalion in Egypt.

On the 2nd June 1916 Private Johnson left Alexandria aboard the transport Kinfauns Castle bound for France, arriving at Marseille on the 8th June 1916.

On the 23rd July 1916 the Battalion was training in the vicinity of Berteacourt, France. Private Johnson was charged with being Absent From Parade at 9.00 am and 1.00 pm on the 22nd July and Being Absent from Church Parade on the 23rd July 1916. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment number two.

On the 14th October 1916 the Battalion was resting at La Clyette, France, after being relieved from the front line. On this day Private Johnson was charged with being Absent Without Leave from 9.15 pm on the 10th October to 4.00 pm on the 11th October and of being Drunk and Urinating in Troop Quarters. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment number two and forfeiture of eight days pay.

On the 30th December 1916 when the Battalion was training at Flesselles, France, Private Johnson was evacuated to the 8th Australian Field Ambulance with sore feet, possibly mild trench foot. He returned to the Battalion on the 18th January 1917 whilst it was at Mametz (near Pozieres), France.

On the 7th June 1917 the 45th Battalion was involved in an attack in the vicinity of the Messines Ridge, Belgium. Private Johnson was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Messines.

Private Johnson has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate at Ypres, Belgium.

A. C. Janion served as A. C. Johnson on 45th Battalion panel at the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium (Photograph: H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

Janion A. C. served as A. C. Johnson on 45th Battalion panel [bottom right row in centre] at the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium (Photograph: H. Thompson 11/9/2012)

A letter in his service record dated 3rd December 1920 addressed to his mother Mrs. A. I. Janion, James Bay Hotel, Government Street, Victoria, B.C. in Canada acknowledges receipt of her statutory declaration (also in the file) advising his last name of Johnson which he enlisted under to be an assumed name, and states that the ‘records have been amended to read – “Stated to be JANION Alan Cheshyre.”

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