Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

John Edward(Edwin) OCALLAGHAN

Personal

Born: 1896

Birth registration: Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration No. 27018

Birthplace: Collingwood, Victoria

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

Died: 11 April, 1917

Cause: Killed In Action

Place of death: Vimy Ridge near Bullecourt, France

Burial place: No known grave

Awards and Honours

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

Battalions

29th Battalion 2nd Reinforcements46th Battalion

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 1832

Enlistment date: 5 July, 1915 Melbourne

Age at enlistment: 19 years 2 months

Address at enlistment: 92 Codben Street, Kew

Religion: Roman Catholic

Marital Status: Single

Next of kin: Aunt: Mrs Louisa Bond

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 2 inches
Weight: 9 stones 7 pounds
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Fair
Distinctive marks:

Embarkation ship: HMAT A64 Demosthenes.

Rank: Corporal

War Service Summary

05/07/1915 - Enlisted
29/10/1915 - Embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Demosthenes
06/03/1916 - Allotted to and proceeded to join 46th Battalion, Tel-el-Kebir
17/03/1916 - To hospital, sick; Admitted 12th Field Ambulance
25/03/1916 - Discharged to duty and rejoined 46th Battalion
16/04/1916 - Taken on Strength 46th Battalion
02/06/1916 - Proceeded to join B.E.F. from Alexandria
08/06/1916 - Disembarked Marseilles.
22/07/1916 - To hospital, sick, in the Field
30/07/1916 - Rejoined Battalion
26/08/1916 - Letter from Roman Catholic chaplain Devine, indicating recent wounding but it is questionable that this was John
19/10/1916 - Rejoined 46th Battalion
01/11/1916 - Appointed L/Corporal; in the Field.
16/12/1916 - Promoted to Corporal
11/04/1917 - Reported Missing in Action
26/11/1917 - Court of Enquiry posted: Killed in Action on 11/04/1917

War Service Commemerated

Killed in action.

Date: 11 April, 1917

11/04/1917 - Wounded by shell Vimy Ridge near Bullecourt helped to Regimental First Aid Post ½ mile from front; Bruised and left leg badly shattered. Red Cross Report by F Butterworth # 2564
11/04/1917 - Reported Missing in Action
26/11/1917 - Court of Enquiry posted: Killed in Action on 11/04/1917

No known Grave.
Memorial: Villers-Bretonneux France

John Edwin O'Callaghan's is remembered at panel 142 in the Commemorative Area of the Australian War Memorial

Additional Information

Other relevant information:
Siblings:
Stephen J. OCallaghan,
Thomas OCallaghan, K.I.A.
Timothy
Mary
Annie
By 1921 only Stephen and Annie are alive

Youngest Sister Annie Granted Pension of 5/-as of 18/02/1918 as Parents and Uncle & aunt are deceased.

Embarkation records can be accessed using the name Edward John Ocallaghan, # 1832

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
Newspaper accounts