Patrick Francis Fitzgerald
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | Not known |
| Place of Birth | Mitchellstown, Limerick, Ireland |
| Death | 1 May 1954 |
| Place of Death | Leederville, aged 87 |
| Age at Enlistment | 43 years, 3 months |
| Description | 5'3" (1.60m) tall; weight 131 lbs (59.4 kg); fresh complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair |
| Occupation | brickmaker |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Son Mr Daniel Fitzgerald |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2661 |
| Date of Enlistment | 10 Jun 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 48th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements transferred to 32nd Battalion / 8th Brigade, 5th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 30 Oct 1916 - 28 Dec 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A16 Port Melbourne |
| Date of Return | 1 Jun 1919 - 8 Jul 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Somali |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 24 Apr 1918 at Ancre Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Patrick was a widower. In 1897 he had married to Julia Mary Thomas in Kalgoorlie. Sadly Julia died in 1902 aged 28.
Electoral Roll entry - 1910 a mill hand at Wellington Mills
War Service
Prior to embarking for overseas, Patrick was a member of many drafts at Blackboy Hill. Six weeks after enlisting he was allocated to the 23rd reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, but 3 days later was switched to the 22nd reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, and then on 5 Sep 1916, transferred to the 6th draft for the 48th Battalion.
On arrival in England he joined the 12th Training Battalion near Codford before proceeding overseas to France on 15 Feb 1917 aboard the HMT Princess Victoria from Folkestone to join the 4th Australian Division Base Depot.
On 21 Mar 1917 he was taken on strength by the 32nd Battalion along with 28 other reinforcements. The battalion was at that time engaged on road repair duty in the Somme Valley near Gueudecourt. On 2 Jul 1917 a charge of drunkenness was proven against him, costing him £3/10/-, and 14 days field punishment. In Feb 1918 Patrick was granted two weeks leave in England.
On 24 Apr 1918 the Germans heavily shelled the 32nd Battalion who were in the reserve line west of Vaux sur Somme as part of the German attack on Villers-Bretonneux.
"At Corbie in Reserve Line west of Vaux sur Somme. Strength 41 Officers and 783 men - Enemy artillery very active on whole sector in sympathy with his attack on Villers-Bretonneux; Battalion area heavily shelled with mustard gas and H.E. Conduct of men while under gas shelling was very good."[1]
Casualties for 24th and 25th August were 4 Killed, 24 wounded; 13 gassed. Patrick received a severe shell wound to his right thigh, and was treated at 11th Australian Field Ambulance and the 10th General Hospital in Rouen before being evacuated to England on HMHS Panama.
In England he was admitted to 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth. When Patrick recovered he was posted on 5 Sep 1918 to the staff of the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford which serviced those with war-related nerves and neurosis.
In 1918 he confessed to being aged 52, so he was 50 at time of enlistment, born c1866. He returned to Australia as a member of hospital staff on duty on the SS Somali leaving England on 1 Jun 1919.
Discharged 5th Military District 15 Aug 1919.
Post War
Married Elizabeth Alice Blackmore in 1922. Electoral Roll entries - 1925 a brickmaker in Cardup with Elizabeth Alice; 1931 - 1949 brickmaker in Clifton road, Byford; 1954 a pensioner.
References
- ↑ The 32nd Battalion's War Diary notes for 24 Aug 1918