SAPPER PATRICK JOSEPH FITZGERALD
8013 – 2nd Tunnelling Company
Patrick Joseph Fitzgerald signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ on 9 February 1917 at Kalgoorlie, West Australia (WA).
The 1916 Electoral Roll records that Patrick Joseph Fitzgerald, Miner, was living at 103 Egan Street, Kalgoorlie.
He recorded that he had been born in Hobart, Tasmania, that he was 44 years and 8 months of age and a Miner by trade living at 103 Regan Street, Kalgoorlie. A widower, he named as his Next-of-Kin his son Patrick Joseph Fitzgerald of Cheltenham, Victoria.
A medical examination the same day recorded that he was 5ft 3ins tall and weighed 158 lbs. He had a fair complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He was of the Roman Catholic faith.
He signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ on 12 February at Blackboy Hill, WA and his training began at X Depot until 16 February when he was transferred to the Tunnellers with the rank of Sapper.
On 21 March he was transferred to the Miners Reinforcements at their training camp at Seymour, Victoria. He was moved to the Tunnelling Companies at Seymour on 2 April and on 8 May was appointed to the 9th Reinforcements, 2nd Pioneer Battalion with the rank of Private. On 20 May he was returned to the Tunnelling Companies.
From 11 July until 12 October Patrick was in hospital at Langwarrin, Victoria. He rejoined the Tunnelling Companies at the Bendigo camp and regained his Sapper rank. He was appointed to the May Reinforcements, Tunnelling Companies on 24 October 1917.
On 2 November he moved to the Seymour camp until 20 November when he was moved back to the Broadmeadows camp.
Patrick embarked at Port Melbourne on 21 November 1917 on board HMAT A71 Nestor.
The troopship Nestor departed with 168 Reinforcements on board. The voyage of twenty-five days duration terminated at the Suez on December 15, 1917 and the men disembarked going to the Australian Infantry Camp, Suez the same day. They entrained for Alexandria on January 4, 1918 and marched into the Australian Camp, Gabbary, in Alexandria on January 5 then boarded on January 8, 1918 the Transport E620 Abbasiah, disembarking at Taranto, Italy on 12 January. It was an unusual journey for the troops to undertake the weeklong train travel from Taranto to Cherbourg, France, and to then cross the channel to Southampton, England disembarking on January 24, 1918. A further entrainment completed their journey to Tidworth and they marched into No.3 Details Camp at Parkhouse.
Patrick proceeded overseas to France on 2 March 1918 and marched in to the Australian General base Depot (AGBD) at Rouelles on 3 March. He marched out to the Australian Corps Depot on 8 March. On 14 March he marched out to join the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company (2ATC) where he was taken on strength the same day.
On 28 August he was granted special leave to England, rejoining his unit on 13 September.
Patrick marched out of his unit for repatriation on 3 February 1919 and marched in to the AGBD at Havre until 12 February. He marched out to England on 12 February, joining the 2nd Training Brigade on 13 March.
Following the Armistice, members of 2ATC were involved in the clearance of mines and delayed-action booby-traps and in the re-construction of civilian infrastructure until the Company was recalled to Base on May 23, 1919 to organize their departure from France.
Patrick left London on 13 April 1919 on board Castalia, disembarking in Fremantle on 22 May, before travelling to Melbourne, arriving there before 30 May.
At No.5 Australian General Hospital, Melbourne on 30 May a medical report recorded: ‘Cold on chest last 12 months. Gassed July 1918. Shortness of Breath. Class “C”
A review of 9 July recorded: ‘Still some shortness of breath on exertion, and slight cough. Heart, Lungs, and Urine clear. Incapacity 1/3’.
In Melbourne on 2 August 1919 Patrick was discharged from the A.I.F. as ‘medically unfit’. He was entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
He signed for his British War Medal at Victoria Barracks on 28 November 1921. His Victory Medal was not collected and was returned to Depot on 10 May 1925.
The Electoral Roll of 1925 records Patrick Joseph Fitzgerald, Labourer, living at 61 Dudley Street, Melbourne.
On 23 March 1929 his Certificate of Discharge was found in Spencer Street, Melbourne by Mr. J. K. Troup, Esq., M.D., and returned to Victoria Barracks.
© Donna Baldey 2015
www.tunnellers.net
with the assistance of Patrick Fitzgerald, Great Grandson of Patrick Joseph Fitzgerald
ADDENDUM
Patrick Fitzgerald advised:
I know that he was born in Liverpool, not Hobart as he states on his records.
He was buried in an unmarked grave in Maldon until we came across this. He has now a War Grave. I know he died Feb 4th 1928. He worked in Maldon, Victoria, as a mine manager upon his return.
The NSW BDMs record that a Joseph Patrick Fitzgerald was born at Dungog, NSW 1870, son of Patrick Joseph and Margaret.
The Victorian BDMs record that Patrick Joseph Fitzgerald died at Maldon, Victoria in 1928, age 57, son of Patrick and Unknown
It is hoped that Patrick’s family can assist to complete his story.