Edwin Patrick Hanrahan
From Our Contribution
 Australia's fighting Sons of the Empire | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 5 Nov 1895 |
| Place of Birth | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Death | 25 Apr 1959, aged 63 |
| Place of Death | Watermans bay, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 20 years, 10 months |
| Description |
5'6" (1.68m) tall ; 141 lbs 63.956 kg ; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | Engine cleaner |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Wellington Mills, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr Patrick Hanrahan |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 7018 |
| Date of Enlistment | 3 Spr 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 16th Battalion, 23rd Reinforcement |
| Date of Embarkation | 23 Dec 1916 ‒ 16 Feb 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A35 Berrima |
| Date of Return | 21 Jul 1917 ‒ 12 Sep 1917 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A14 Euripides |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Jarrahdale Honour Roll |
| Medals | British War Medal |
Pre War
War Service
Original enlistment papers signed in Bunbury. On entering Blackboy Hill camp he spent less than a week training before he joined the 23rd reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. Two months later he was enroute to England with the draft Aboard HMAT A35 Berrima, spending Christmas Day 1916 off the Western Australian coast. On 4 Jan 1917 Edwin was admitted to the ship's hospital for 6 days, illness not stated in his records. On arrival in England on 16 Feb 1917 he was sent to the 4th Training Battalion at Codford to prepare for France. However, soon after on 26 Feb 1917, he was admitted to the Group Hospital at Codford with pleurisy, but after two days was released back to training.
On 8 Mar 1917 he was again admitted to hospital, this time to the Sutton Veny Military Hospital with pleurisy, this time dangerously ill. He remained in hospital until 1 Jun 1917 when he was released to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth.
Returned to Australia without entering France, or joining the 16th Battalion in the field. While waiting to be discharged he was sent to the Wooroloo Sanitorium 22nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, where on 11 Nov 1917 he was charged with being AWOL from 8:30pm to 9:10pm, and with refusing to obey an order. Sentence was a Reprimand. Discharged by 5th Military District on 21 Dec 1917 as unfit (TB of lungs). Placed on a pension of 30/- per fortnight, granted from 22 Dec 1917.
Post War
In 1918 Edwin married Florence Annie May Hill (b.6 Aug 1893) in Perth. Florence died on 25 Jan 1988, aged 94 in Manning. Children were John Edwin (b.1919) also known as Jack; Lily Florence May (1920-2007); and Ernest James (1926-1998).
Electoral Roll entries - 1918 - a mill hand at Wellington Mills; 1922 - 1925 at Reid's No. 2 Mill working as a saw filer with Florence; 1931 - 1949 at 20 Brisbane terrace, North Perth a sawyer; 1954 - 1958 at 48 Elsie street, Watermans Bay, retired.
Notes