O'CALLAGHAN, John
| Service Number: | 1600 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 December 1914, Townsville, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 9th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 21 January 1893 |
| Home Town: | Townsville, Townsville, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Townsville Sister's of Mercy Convent School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Drover/Prison warder |
| Died: | Died of Illness (POW of Turkey - enteritis), Angora (Ankara), Turkey, 21 January 1917, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery Buried in the hospital grave yard in the grounds of an Ankara POW camp - Commemorated on the Angora Memorial 125 at the Baghdad War Cemetery, Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Baghdad, Iraq |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Townsville Cenotaph |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Dec 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1600, 9th Infantry Battalion, Townsville, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1600, 9th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
| 13 Feb 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1600, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Choon, Brisbane | |
| 6 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1600, 9th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 28 Jun 1915: | Imprisoned ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 28 Jun 1915: | Wounded ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW - right thigh & left knee |
Help us honour John O'Callaghan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by John Edwards
CWGC seems to record that John was buried at Baghdad War Cemetery - Although it appears only that his name is memorialised there.
A witness account of the demise of John tells that, when a POW in one of the Angora prison yards died, they were taken to a room in the hospital to be washed and then conveyed on a stretcher to the hospital graveyard and buried by Turks. Shrouds were unnecessary luxuries according to the Turks. Fellow prisoners were not permitted to attend the burial of their fellow POW. No marks were made to indicate who was buried where.
Red Cross Wounded and Missing file (rslvwm.s3.amazonaws.com)
"Mrs. Arnesen, of McConkey's Lane, has received a wire from her son-in-law, Mr. Connie O'Callaghan, notifying of his brothers death in Turkey. Private Jack O'Callaghan enlisted in Townsville on returning from service at Thursday Island. He saw service at Gallipoli, where, unfortunately, he was made a prisoner of war, eventually dying while still a prisoner. He was about 25 years of age. Mr. Connie O'Callaghan is at present on a business visit to the Duchess." - from the Charters Towers Northern Miner 12 Jun 1917 (nla.gov.au)
Biography contributed by Edward Green
Lt. Stone of the 4th Worcesters was imprisoned at Constantinople with John until 4th September 1915, when John was moved to another prison. Stone's diary records on that day:
"12 men go out, one of them Pte. O’Callaghan who was a great loss.
There were 3 men whom I shall never forget:
Sgt. Lote. F.W. 2613. 8th Northumberland Fus.; Pte. Miller. W. 1315. 9th Lancashire Fus.; Pte. O’Callaghan 1600. 9th Australians.
These 3 fellows, although wounded themselves, slaved day and night for those who could not help themselves."
Click images to start slideshow.