Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Christopher Cooney was born in 1885 at Mansfield, Victoria, Australia. His parents were Henry and Margaret Cooney. His mother had been married twice previously, and he had half siblings Edward (Ted) Lamb and Jack, Mary and Annie Lyons.
On 28th February 1916 at Bendigo, Christopher enlisted in the AIF under the name Daniel O’Sullivan. His last address was Mologa, 8 miles south of Pyramid Hill in northern Victoria. His occupation was labourer, and it appears he had been working for the Victorian Railways.
On enlistment “Daniel” was 30 years 9 months old, 5 ft 4 ½ inches tall, weighed 9 stone 12 pounds with fair complexion, fair hair and blue eyes; denomination Roman Catholic. His mother, Mrs. Mary Cooney of South Melbourne was listed as his next of kin; a widow. Christopher was her sole support and he provided that she received 3 shillings per day of his pay when he was serving overseas.
After training at Broadmeadows, Private O’Sullivan departed Melbourne on 29th September 1916. He joined the 60th Battalion, on the Somme on the Western Front on 10th October 1916.
Six weeks later, the battalion was on the front line east of Albert near Montauban. Conditions were appalling due to the onset of winter; persistent rain and trenches thigh deep in water and mud. On 29th November, Private O’Sullivan was badly wounded in the thigh, arm and face. He was transferred by ambulance train 100 miles west to the 3rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen near Le Havre. He died there two days later on 1st December 1916.
Private O’Sullivan; Christopher Cooney, was buried in the St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Grave 5826.
Private Daniel O’Sullivan is remembered on the War Memorial at Mologa in northern Victoria.

Submitted by Duncan Brookes, on behalf of the descendants of Chris Cooney’s half sister Mary Peden (nee Lyons).