O'CONNELL, Robert Daniel
| Service Number: | 7299 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 January 1917, Enlisted at Picton, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia, 1886 |
| Home Town: | Camperdown, Inner West, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Tuberculosis, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia, 29 March 1919 |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales M2, Section L, Grave 1231. Commemorated in the NSW Garden of Rememvrance |
| Memorials: | Picton Wollondilly Shire Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Jan 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 7299, 13th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Picton, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 7299, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 26 Apr 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 7299, 13th Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 2nd Military District as medically unfit due to tuberculosis. Service Medal: British War Medal only. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by VWM Australia
Son of Michael O'Connell and Annie O'Connell of Camperdown, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA.
Having enlisted on on 23 January 1917, Private O'Connell embarked for overseas service on 7 February 1917, arriving in Devonport (England) on 26 April 1917. His service record indicates he was cited for an OFFENCE - Absent With Out Leave (8 days) - and was awaiting trial in May 1917. He was admitted to hospital on 12 June 1917 and initially diagnosed as having pleurisy; this was later revised to a diagnosis of pulmonary TB (7/7/17). A review of the Medical Board (10/7/17) annotated that the 'disability' commenced fifteen months prior despite him being signed off as fit for active service on 16 January 1917. The TB was assessed as not being linked to active service, with a notation that 3 of his siblings had died on consumption. There is no evidence in his service record that he was aware that he had or may have had TB prior to or at the time of his enlistment and or that he knowingly withheld information during the process of his enlistment. Private O'Connell commenced his return to Australia on 27 August 1917 aboard "HT New Zealand" disembarking on 24 October 1917. He was formally discharged as medically unfit for service on 26 April 1918. He died from TB on 29 March 1919.
Service Medal: British War Medal. There is no statement (in his service record) as to why the Victory Medal was not awarded to him.