IRISH ANZACS in WW1
For many years the actual number of Irish born who served in Australian and other armed forces, has virtually been unknown. There were estimates, some could be found by tedious, but persistent, searching, but it seemed that there had not been a record of all who served all in one place.
As of October, 2014, all that has changed, thanks to a project conducted by UNSW, the University of NSW. To give you an idea of what records are available, I have selected just a few...
You can find many others here..
Thomas McMahon of Kilmaley
- Title/Name:
McMahon Thomas (Service Record)
- Service number: 1602
- Birthplace: Ennis, County Clare
- Date of enlistment: 1914-12-29
- Age at enlistment: 28 years, 5 months
- Place of enlistment: Liverpool, NSW
- Civilian occupation: Labourer
- Marital status: Single
- Location of next of kin: Ireland
- Previous military experience: Yes
- Religion: Catholic
- Designated unit: 2nd Battalion
- Fate: Killed in Action; 1915-05-20
- Number of times enlisted: 1
- Service record extent: 27 pages
- NAA series: B2455
- NAA control: MCMAHON T
- NAA item title: McMahon Thomas : SERN 1602 POB Ennis Ireland : POE Liverpool NSW : NOK M McMahon M A
- NAA barcode: 1955768
- Link to record: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=1955768
- Collection: Irish Anzacs Project
- Type: service record
On page 4, of his 27 page record, you will see that he was 5'9" of ruddy complexion...
Michael Dillon of Kilrush
- Title/Name:
Dillon Michael (Service Record)
- Service number: 3809
- Birthplace: Kilrush, County Clare
- Date of enlistment: 1915-08-21
- Age at enlistment: 25 years, 1 months
- Place of enlistment: Kalgoorlie, WA
- Civilian occupation: Labourer
- Marital status: Single
- Location of next of kin: Australia
- Previous military experience: No
- Religion: Catholic
- Designated unit: 12th Battalion
- Number of times enlisted: 1
- Service record extent: 38 pages
- NAA series: B2455
- NAA control: DILLON M
- NAA item title: Dillon Michael : SERN 3809 : POB Kilrush Ireland : POE Kalgoorlie WA : NOK M Dillon Thomas
- NAA barcode: 3507352
- Link to record: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=3507352
- Collection: Irish Anzacs Project
- Type: service record
On page 5 of his record, you will see, that as with many others, he went AWOL for a time, and was demoted.. he was also admitted to hospital and later you can see what condition he had when returned to Australia.
and yes, there were women too
Kathleen Elizabeth Moloney of Limerick
- Title/Name:
Moloney Kathleen Elizabeth (Service Record)
- Service number: Sister
- Birthplace: Limerick, County Limerick
- Date of enlistment: 1916-08-22
- Age at enlistment: 24 years, 0 months
- Place of enlistment: Melbourne, Vic
- Civilian occupation: Hospital Nurse
- Marital status: Single
- Location of next of kin: Australia
- Previous military experience: Blank
- Religion: Catholic
- Designated unit: AANS
- Number of times enlisted: 1
- Service record extent: 33 pages
- NAA series: B2455
- NAA control: MOLONEY KATHLEEN ELIZABETH
- NAA item title: MOLONEY Kathleen Elizabeth : Service Number - Sister : Place of Birth - Limerick Ireland : Place of Enlistment - N/A : Next of Kin - (Aunt) MURDOCK Mrs
- NAA barcode: 7981517
- Link to record: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=7981517
- Collection: Irish Anzacs Project
- Type: service record
On page 15, you will see that this lass born in Limerick, certainly saw a bit of the world... note on Page1 that you have the full address of her next of kin, was she a sister to Kathleen perhaps?
You can find Irish born of many counties, filter by religion, birthplace, gender, etc.... there is even a moving image collection.
All in all, a great resource.
For further reading, you might like....
http://jeffkildea.com/books/
