Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

Stephen Joseph OCALLAGHAN

Personal

Born: 21 November, 1892

Birth registration: Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration No. 1679

Birthplace: Holden, Victoria

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

Died: December, 1979

Place of death: Warragul, Victoria; Registration No. 2928

Burial place: Hazelwood Cemetery, Hazelwood, Victoria

Awards and Honours

  • 1914-1915 Star
  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal
  • ANZAC Commemorative Medal or Gallipoli Medal

Battalions

13th Light Horse Headquarters, Machine Gun Section

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 389

Enlistment date: 13 December, 1914 Melbourne

Age at enlistment: 23 years 1 month

Address at enlistment: 40 McGregor Street, Middle Park

Religion: Roman Catholic

Marital Status: Single

Next of kin: Aunt: Mrs. E. M. Howard

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Weight: 9 stones
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Fair
Distinctive marks: Vac 2 Left Arm

Embarkation ship: A34 Persic.

Rank: Private

Return Date: 21 December, 1919

Return Vessel: Napier.

Arrival at Australia: 10 February, 1920.

Discharge Date: 23 May, 1920

War Service Summary

13/12/1914 - At depot
28/05/1915 - Embarked Australia
03/11/1915 - Taken on Strength; Gallipoli Peninsular
07/12/1915 - Sick to hospital
10/12/1915 - Discharged to duty; Gallipoli
08/01/1916 - Disembarked Simla from Mudros; Admitted to 15th General Hospital, Alexandria; appendicitis
18/01/1916 - Transferred from Alexandria to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis
21/01/1916 - Discharged to duty
28/02/1916 - Admitted to 1st A.G.H., appendix pains
01/03/1916 - Discharged to duty; Ghezireh
03/04/1916 - Admitted Hospital with appendix pain; Montazah
20/04/1916 - Discharged to duty
17/04/1916 - Transferred 1st Light Horse Training
24/05/1916 - Transferred to 4th Division Cavalry
07/06/1916 - Embarked Alexandria to join British Expeditionary Forces
16/06/1916 - Disembarked Marseilles
04/10/1916 - Marched out to A.G.B. Depot; Etaples
26/10/1916 - To hospital, sick, influenza; Etaples
31/10/1916 - Discharged to Base Details
04/11/1916 - 1st A.A. Corps, Light Horse from 13th Light Horse Regiment
14/11/1916 In the field
10/03/1917 - Attached to Headquarters for duty with A.P.M.
23/03/1917 - Returned to 1st Light Horse Regiment
07/04/1917 - To Hospital; sick, conjunctivitis
12/05/1917 - Rejoined Unit
09/09/1917 - At Harve pending transfer to Infantry Battalion
11/09/1917 - Joined base depot
26/09/1917 - Transferred to 39th Battalion, A.I.F., France
20/10/1917 - In the field with the 39th Battalion
08/12/1917 - To Hospital, sick; 3rd Field Ambulance
16/12/1917 - Rejoined battalion from hospital
05/04/1918 14/04/1918 - AWOL Forfeit 21 days pay
19/05/1918 - To hospital, sick with influenza; in the field
27/05/1918 - Transferred to convalescent depot, influenza; Etaples
10/06/1918 - Discharged to duty, Rouelles
21/06/1918 - Rejoined unit in the field
26/12/1918 - Transferred A.I.F. Headquarters Repatriation Demobilisation Deport for duty in London
28/12/1918 - Marched in from the field; Rouelles
02/01/1919 - Marched out to England
03/01/1919 - Disembarked Southampton to report to Hurdcott
05/03/1919 - No. 4 General Depot; Motor School Weymouth
10/04/1919 - No. 4 Depot, Hurdcott, England
25/05/1919 to 27/08/1919 - Granted 3 months leave; 19/08/1919 - Married in Ireland to Elizabeth Hurley of 9 High Street, Killarney
21/12/1919 - Embarked for Australia per Napier
10/02/1920 - Arrived at Melbourne
23/05/1920 - Discharged from duty

War Service Commemerated

Life After the War

Names of wife & children:
19/08/1919 - Married Elizabeth Hurley, St Marys, Killarney, Ireland

Children:
4 girls
1 boy

Place/s of residence:
1945 - 15 Tarwin Street, Morwell
1967 - RSL Park War Veterans Home, Frankston

Occupations:
Tramway Employee, Malvern Tram Depot
Labourer
Pumpsman

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

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.

Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Nominal Roll
Embarkation Roll
Newspaper accounts