MAGUIRE, Hugh Joseph
| Service Number: | 2884 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia, 18 August 1888 |
| Home Town: | Cootamundra, Cootamundra, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Fireman |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 9 June 1917, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cootamundra RSL Honour Rolls, Cootamundra Sacred Heart Catholic Church Memorial, Cootamundra War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2884, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2884, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney | |
| 30 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Appointed in the field in France. | |
| 31 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2884, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Suffered shell shock and abrasions. | |
| 8 May 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 9 Jun 1917: | Involvement Corporal, 2884, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2884 awm_unit: 45 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-06-09 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Hugh Joseph MAGUIRE (Service Number 2884) was born on 18th August 1888 in Cootamundra. He commenced his career in the Railways on 2nd August 1910 as a cleaner (first rung in the career path to driver) in the Locomotive Branch. He progressed on 29th March 1912, to a fireman. He began working at Eveleigh Locomotive Depot on 28th October 1913. On 25th July 1915, he was released from duty with the Railways to enlist in the AIF. He was 27-years-old when he enlisted. He embarked at Sydney on HMAT A70 ‘Ballarat’ on 6th September 1915.
On 15th November 1915, he was admitted for synovitis in his knee while in Heliopolis (Egypt). Still in Egypt by 11th December, he was transferred to the Suez Convalescent Camp. Not long after, on 8th January 1916, he joined his Battalion in Ismailia. After transferring to the 45th Battalion in early March 1916, he proceeded overseas from Alexandria on 2nd June 1916 and disembarked at Marseilles on 8th June.
On 30th July 1916, he was appointed Lance Corporal in the field in France. About a month later, on 31st August, he was wounded. He was admitted a few days later for shell shock and abrasions. He remained in hospital for most of September, before he re-joined his Battalion in the field in France on 17th October. It wasn’t long before he was admitted to hospital again, this time for Influenza. He remained in hospital until 18thJanuary 1917 and then re-joined his Battalion again. Unfortunately, he was back in hospital for Influenza again by 2nd April 1917. His stay was much shorter this time – he re-joined his Battalion in the field on 10th April 1917. He was made Temporary Corporal in France on 8th May 1917.
A short time later, on 7th June 1917, he was injured in the field with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was admitted for this but died of the wound on 9th June. One account of his death reads:
‘He was shot through the chest with a bullet, during an attack there [Messines]’.
He was 28 when he died and was buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord), Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France.
Following his death, his mother was sent some of his personal items, such as letters, photos, a watch, a fountain pen, and a comb. She also received his war medals, the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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