Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

Thomas Henry OCALLAGHAN

Personal

Born: 1894

Birth registration: Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration No. 10388

Birthplace: Carlton, Victoria

Parents: John OCallaghan (1853-1910); born Richmond; occupation Boundary Rider
Mary Reid (1859-1904); born Leigh, Ireland
Married 1889 Reg. # 7814

Died: 26 September, 1917

Cause: Killed In Action

Place of death: Glencorse Wood / Polygon Wood, Ypres, Belgium

Burial place: Unmarked grave, Glencorse Wood / Polygon Wood, Ypres, Belgium

Awards and Honours

  • 1914-1915 Star
  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal
  • 1914-1918 Memorial Plaque

Battalions

57th Battalion; 59th Battalion; 7th Battalion, 12th Reinforcements

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 3859

Enlistment date: 9 July, 1915 Melbourne

Age at enlistment: 21 years 2 months

Address at enlistment: 40 McGregor Street, Middle Park

Religion: Roman Catholic

Marital Status: Single

Next of kin: Aunt: Mrs. E. M. Howard
Sister: Miss A, OCallaghan, 92 Cobdan St., Kew

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 3 inches
Weight: 10 stones 12 pounds
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Medium Brown
Distinctive marks: Scar Left calf; Small moles on body

Embarkation ship: HMAT A40 Ceramic.

Rank: Private

War Service Summary

09/07/1915 - Enlisted
16/07/1915 - 9th Depot Battalion
22/10/1915 - 12/7 Reinforcements
26/02/1916 - Transferred from 2nd Training Battalion to join 59th Battalion, Zeitoun
15/03/1916 - Transferred to 57th Battalion, Tel-el-Kebir
29/03/1916 - To hospital; sick; Ferry Post
30/03/1916 - Admitted 4th Field Ambulance, Serapium; sore feet; Admitted 1st A.S. Hospital; Ismalia
01/04/1916 - Discharged to duty
17/06/1916 - Embarked H T Transylvania at Alexandria to join British Expeditionary Force
23/06/1916 - Disembarked Marseilles
10/09/1916 - To hospital, sick, from the field; admitted with pleurisy
13/09/1916 - To No. 14 Ambulance Train
14/09/1916 - Admitted 7th General Hospital, Pleurisy; St. Omer
02/10/1916 - Embarked for England aboard H.S. St. Denis, for Napsbury, St. Albans, England from Boulogne
14/10/1916 - Marched in, ex Southall
16/02/1917 - Marched in from Wareham
17/02/1917 - Marched out to Perham Downs
28/02/1917 - Proceeded overseas to France per S.S. Invicta from Folkestone
01/03/1917 - Marched in from England; Etaples
05/03/1917 - Marched out to 57th Battalion
07/03/1917 - Rejoined unit, 57th Battalion, in France
25/09/1917 - Killed in Action; in the field

War Service Commemerated

Killed in action.

Date: 26 September, 1917

26/09/1917
Glencorse Wood / Polygon Wood, Ypres, Belgium

Lewis Gunn Operator who was killed by a shell blast. Reports of his death vary indicating he was killed by shell concussion report, or a shell piece entering his back, or from multiple wounds. See Red Cross Report

Grave location: Thomas was buried near where he fell in an unmarked grave. He is now remembered at:
Bedford House Cemetery Zillebeke, Enclosure No. 4, III, B 9, Belgium 167; near West-Vlaanderen

Effects: Part of cigarette case; no personal effects in kit
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Area panel 164 recognises Thomas O’Callaghan

Additional Information

Parents connection to Melton:

The Argus
30 May 1904, P. 1
O'CALLAGHAN
O'CALLAGHAN. - On the 28th May, at the Melbourne Hospital, Mary Jane, the beloved wife of John O'Callaghan, of Melton, eldest daughter of Stephen and Jane Reid, late of Macedon, aged 45 year. Requiescat in peace.

O'CALLAGHAN.—The Friends of Mr. JOHN O'CALLAGHAN of Melton are respectfully invited to follow the remains of his beloved wife to the place of interment Sunbury Cemetery, Tuesday morning, 31st inst., at half-past 10 o'clock.

Bacchus Marsh Express
16 April 1910, p. 4

On the 19th ult. we drew attention to the danger of horses standing on the foot paths, and on Saturday night Mr. John O'Callaghan, while walking home past the gate of the Golden Fleece hotel, was kicked in the stomach by a horse standing at the gate on the footpath; and so severe were his injuries that he died early on Monday morning. Dr. Leger Erson attended to the sufferer, but could do nothing for him. The Dr. was kind enough to bring ice in his car on Sunday morning when visiting the injured man, who succumbed to his injuries at 1.30 on Monday morning. The deceased had been in and about the district for many years, having lived at Holden, Keilor, and other places in the district. He leaves four children to mourn his loss. The funeral arrangements were placed in the hands of Mr. A. Shebler, and were well carried out. The remains were buried in the Sunbury cemetery.

The Argus
12 April 1910, page 8
KILLED BY HORSES KICKS.
John O'Callaghan, 57 years of age, who resided at Melton, received a kick from a horse which proved fatal. Late on Saturday night O'Callaghan was walking along a footpath in the township, when a horse, which was wandering about near the footpath, kicked O'Callaghan in the abdomen. The injured man was conveyed to his home, and early on Sunday morning Dr. Leger Erson, of Footscray, was telephoned for. The doctor found that the injured man was in a very low state. O'Callaghan lingered all the day, and died early yesterday morning.

The Age
12 April, 1918, p. 1

PRATT. — In loving memory of our dear brother Private Robert Pratt, died of wounds somewhere in France on the 12th April, 1917; also his mates. Corp. J O'Callaghan, died 11th April, 1917, and T. O'Callaghan, killed in action on 26th September, 1917.
We pictured their safe returning
And longed to clasp their hands;
But God has parted our meeting
Twill be in a better land.
- Inserted by his sister and brother-in-law, Charlotte C. Connolly

Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Nominal Roll
Embarkation Roll