MCCLOSKEY, James
| Service Number: | 2296 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 October 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | Railway Unit (AIF) |
| Born: | Riddells Creek, Victoria, Australia, 6 March 1884 |
| Home Town: | Dimboola, Hindmarsh, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Riddells Creek State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Fireman |
| Died: | Measles And Broncho Pneumonia, At sea (HMAT A15 Port Sydney), 1 December 1917, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Riddell District Honor Roll Board, Riddells Creek Riddell District Honour Roll Plaque, Riddells Creek State School Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Oct 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 2296, Reinforcements WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1917: | Involvement 2296, Railway Unit (AIF), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Sydney embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1917: | Embarked 2296, Railway Unit (AIF), HMAT Port Sydney, Melbourne | |
| 1 Dec 1917: | Involvement 2296, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2296 awm_unit: Railway Unit Details awm_rank: Second Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-12-01 |
Help us honour James McCloskey's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Husband of Mrs Sarah McCloskey, Hindmarsh, Dimboola, Victoria
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 1st December…… James Greig McCloskey was born at Riddells Creek, Victoria on 6th March, 1884.
He married Margaret Boorty* in 1911 in Melbourne, Victoria. They had the following children – Alice McCloskey (born 1913); James McCloskey (born 1914; died 1914); Francis Joseph McCloskey & Daniel McCloskey (born 1915). (*Name listed as Boorty on Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages website, however a family tree on Ancestry has the name as Boortz as does the death notice in newspaper for Margaret)
Margaret McCloskey died on 26th April, 1915 at South Melbourne, Victoria.
James McCloskey married Sarah Celia Miller in 1915 in Victoria.
On 16th December, 1915 James McCloskey enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) aged 32 years & 9 months, married & a Railway Fireman.
The Statement of Service file for James McCloskey is marked in red “Did no Duty. Cancelled at wife’s request.”
A letter dated 22nd December, 1915 from Captain for A.A.G. 3rd Military District Headquarters C.S. to A.A.G. (A.I.F.) Officer in charge Recruiting Depot, Sturt Street reads: “It has been represented that James McCloskey enlisted for active service whilst under the influence of drink, and now desires to withdraw. Please cancel his attestation papers.”
James McCloskey re-enlisted on 15th December, 1916 stating he was aged 32 years & 9 months, married & a Railway Fireman. He was posted to Railway Unit on 18th December, 1916.
He was discharged from Australian Imperial Force on 26th February, 1917 at his own request. He had served for 74 days.
Mildred McCloskey, daughter of James & Sarah McCloskey was born in 1917, in Victoria.
James McCloskey re-enlisted on 20th October, 1917 stating he was aged 33, married & a Railway Fireman from Dimboola, Victoria. He was posted to Recruit Depot at Broadmeadows, Victoria on 22nd October, 1917 then on 1st November, 1917 he was transferred to Railway Unit & appointed as 2nd Corporal.
On 9th November, 1917 2nd Corporal McCloskey, Service number 2296, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Port Sydney (A15) with the Railway Unit, October 1917 Reinforcements.
He was admitted to Ship’s Hospital on 9th November, 1917 with Vaccina & was discharged on 11th November, 1917.
2nd Corporal McCloskey was re-admitted to Ship’s Hospital on 20th November, 1917 suffering from Influenza & Measles. The Hospital Admissions form recorded: “Isolated with measles on 22/11/17 – developed broncho-pneumonia a few days later & died on 1/12/17.”
2nd Corporal James McCloskey died at 11.45 am on 1st December, 1917 at Sea on board HMAT Port Sydney (A15) from Measles & Broncho Pneumonia.
He was buried at Sea at 3.30 pm on 1st December, 1917 from HMAT Port Sydney (A15). He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as he has no grave. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/m---o.html
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