Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Duncan Victor MULHOLLAND was born in Petersham, Sydney on 19th June 1891

His parents were James MULHOLLAND & Gertrude Susannah Mary BROWN who married in NSW in 1886

He enlisted in Liverpool, NSW on 13th February, 1915 & embarked from Sydney on 13th June 1915 with the 12th Light Horse Regiment on the HMAT Suevic

Duncan died from multiple shell wounds in France on 31st May, 1918 and is buried in the Ebblinghem Military Cemetery - his name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial and the Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

Medals:  1914-15 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal

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Two of his brothers also served during WW1

1. William James MULHOLLAND (SN4436) returned to Australia in 1920

2.  Harold Kenneth MULHOLLAND (SN39466) returned to Australia in 1919

"Mulholland. — Captain Duncan Victor, son of Mr. and Mrs. 'Jas. Mulholland; Ashfleld, died of wounds in France, May 31, 1918, aged 27 years. Inserted by his loving, parents and sisters."

The above notice appears in yesterday's city papers and refers to a young officer who was favorably known in Scone and beloved by all who knew him. Captain Mulholland was for some time on the staff of the local branch of the Bank of N.S.W., and enlisted from our town over three years ago. He served on Gallipoli as a private, and for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty," so read a deapatch, won his star on the field. The gallant machine gunner was working with his team under heavy fire, and after seeing his comrades wiped out, he alone continued to serve his gun until it was demolished. It was for this act that he received his commission. 'Mul,' as he was so familiarly known to his many associates hereabout, was every inch a soldier, and a more game fellow never shouldered a rifle. Needless to say many were the heartfelt expressions of sympathy that were manifested on all sides when the news of his death, noble though it be, was received in Scone a few days back, and equally many will be the expressions of condolence that will go out to those who mourn the loss of such an exemplary son and soldier. Miss. McAdam, of Aberdeen, who returned from England a few months back, informs us that she met the late Captain in England on 26th January, at which time he was in the very best of health and spirits, and was looking forward to his early return to the firing line, in which he had served so well for the long stretch of three years.

DUNCAN VICTOR MULHOLLAND, son of Mr. James and Mrs. Gertrude Mulholland, was born at Petersham, New South Wales, on 19th June, 1891. He was educated at the Fort Street High School (Sydney), and entered the service of the Bank at Grafton on 24th July, 1908. He was transferred to Uralla, as ledger-keeper, in February, 1910; to Scone in May, 1911; and to Muswellbrook, as assistant, in September, 1913.

Duncan Victor Mulholland enlisted at Liverpool, N.S.W., in December, 1914, and embarked on the “Suevic” on 13th June, 1915, as a corporal in the Machine Gun section of the 12th Light Horse. He was in action in Gallipoli, Egypt and France. He was transferred to the 1st Light Horse on the Peninsula, and promoted to the rank of second-lieutenant on 22nd November, 1915; a few days later he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, attaining the rank of first-lieutenant on 24th March, 1916. On 1st April he was seconded for duty with the 1st Machine Gun Company and promoted to captain on 28th December following.

In September, 1917, he was transferred to the 3rd Machine Gun Company in France, and while commanding that company at Strazeele on 31st May, 1918, he received wounds from an enemy shell. He was admitted to the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance Hospital, but died the same day.

Major Ffrench, of the 1st Australian Machine Gun Battalion, writing of Captain Mulholland to his father, said: —

“It is with the deepest regret that I am writing to you to tell you how we all sympathise with you and Mrs. Mulholland in your bereavement. Poor old Mul (as we called him) was one of my original officers when I brought the 1st Coy. over to France and we all liked his cheery ways and admired his undoubted pluck.

“It was, personally, a severe blow to me, as I was speaking to him the night before. The sad part was he was getting on so well and would have been sure to have had a decoration this year and perhaps promotion. It may be some comfort to you that he felt no pain, and the brother told me he died with a smile on his face. I attended the last rites and there were some of his old officers there. General Walker, the Divisional Commander, and the Brigade Commander were both represented and sent us notes saying how much they regretted the loss of a gallant officer. We are having a cross made. He was buried near Ebblinghem on 1st June. Once more, Sir, I beg you to accept from all his old comrades in arms our very great sympathy and we regret deeply the loss of a very gallant gentleman.”