FLANAGAN, Claude Frederick
| Service Number: | 5009 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 November 1915, Lithgow, N.S.W. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 54th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, October 1877 |
| Home Town: | Bathurst, Bathurst Regional, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engine Turner, N.S.W. Railways |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Gladstone, North Coast, New South Wales, 19 May 1952 |
| Cemetery: |
Bathurst General Cemetery Catholic OLD, 9.C.3. |
| Memorials: | Bathurst Public School Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5009, Lithgow, N.S.W. | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 5009, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 5009, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Sydney | |
| 12 Oct 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 6 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5009, 54th Infantry Battalion, Accidentally injured at Front, dislocated left elbow, returned to England. | |
| 12 Dec 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5009, 54th Infantry Battalion, R.T.A. per 'Nestor' disembarked Melbourne 1-2-1919 for Sydney. | |
| 9 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 5009, 54th Infantry Battalion, Discharged from AIF in Sydney, medically unfit - disability. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Karen Standen
Claude Frederick Flanagan was the youngest son of William and Elizabeth Flanagan. His mother’s side of the family heralded back to Bathurst’s early days, and as such the family was well known. Claude himself was popular among his peers, particularly his work mates on the railways, and he had been a talented footballer who “represented Bathurst in the old Union days against Inter-Dominion and International teams with marked success”. National Advocate, 21 May 1952 (nla.gov.au). One of his other passions was pigeon racing. Claude was therefore a person of interest in his community, and the local newspapers commented regularly on his military milestones, beginning with his successful medical in November 1915, through to his return home in 1919.
At the end of April 1916, Claude briefly returned to Bathurst on pre-embarkation leave. His former railway colleagues organised a farewell function and, “...presented Private Flanagan with a set of pipes in case, and a silver-mounted cigarette holder... Private Flanagan is on final leave and expects to sail for the front on Tuesday next.” The Bathurst Times, 26 April 1916 (nla.gov.au).
While Claude didn’t sail next Tuesday, he did sail in June, still mourning the passing of his mother only weeks before. On the first anniversary of her death, his sister “received a beutiful In Memoriam card from a Sydney friend of the absent soldier, with a request that Miss Flanagan would place it on her mother's grave.” The Bathurst Times, 19 May 1917 (nla.gov.au).
Arriving in France and joining the 54th Battalion in October 1916, Claude was about to experience the harshest winter of the war. The mud halted fighting in mid November and as it froze, trench duty became intolerable. Respiratory conditions, fevers, rheumatism and frostbite depleted the ranks. Claude finally succumbed at the end of January 1917, initially diagnosed with fevers; PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin/trench fever), myalgia and rheumatism. Within a fortnight, this had been escalated to severe ICT (Inflammation of the Connective Tissue) in his legs and he was returned to England. Claude’s condition became so serious when septic poisoning-set in, that “it was thought by the doctors that the limb would have to be amputated. However, they managed to pull the young soldier through and save the limb.” National Advocate, 18 January 1919 (nla.gov.au).
Twelve months later, Claude was one of eleven other ranks to re-join the 54th at “Scott’s Farm” in France at the beginning of March. Within weeks they were back in the trenches. After several rotation, the 54th were again returning to the lines as support on the 6th April 1918. During these manoeuvres, Claude was accidentally injured. Fully kitted, he fell on his arm, doubling it backwards underneath himself and dislocating both his radius and ulna. The injury was so severe, he was evacuated back to England. Claude never fully recovered and was eventually deemed medically unfit.
Returned to Australia on the Nestor at the end of 1918, Claude arrived in Bathurst on the afternoon train of the 15th February and was greeted by family and friends, as well as members of the War Service Committee. The following Wednesday, “Private Claude Flanagan, was welcomed home by the members of the Bathurst Pigeon Homing Club...and presented with a gold medal suitably inscribed.” National Advocate, 21 February 1919 (nla.gov.au).
Discharged in June 1919, Claude married the following year and settled in his home town.
On the 21st May 1952, the National Advocate announced, “The death occurred at Gladstone, North Coast, N.S.W., on Monday of Mr. Claude Flanagan, a former well-known resident of Bathurst. Deceased was a widower, his wife having predeceased him several years ago. He was a native of Bathurst and until about three years ago had resided here all his life.” This was the same day Claude was buried in the Catholic portion of the Bathurst cemetery. “The funeral was largely attended by relatives and friends. The Rev. Fr. D. Wheelan officiated at the Cathedral and graveside. Members of the Bathurst branch of the R.S.S. and AILA formed a guard of honor at the Cathedral and also at the cemetery. At the cemetery the Last Post was sounded...” National Advocate 22 May 1952 (nla.gov.au).