O'KEEFFE, Joseph Michael
| Service Number: | 584 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Tocumwal, New South Wales, Australia , 22 July 1891 |
| Home Town: | Tocumwal, Berrigan, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Catholic School, Tocumwal, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Assistant Surveyor. |
| Died: | Tocumwal, New South Wales, Australia , 28 May 1977, aged 85 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Tocumwal General Cemetery Buried in large plot with other members of his O'Keeffe family. |
| Memorials: | Tocumwal Memorial Hall Honour Rolls |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 584, 7th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 584, 7th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Ajana, Sydney | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Trooper, 584, 7th Light Horse Regiment |
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Joseph Michael O'Keeffe was born on 22 July 1891 in Tocumwal, NSW, Australia. He was the fifth of thirteen children. His father, James O'Keeffe, was born in County Cork, Ireland, and arrived in Australia sometime before 1885. His mother was Emily Godier, who was born in the Victorian Goldfields near Raywood in 1869.
He was known as Joe, and he attended the Catholic School in Tocumwal, as did all his seven brothers and his six sisters. He worked as an Assistant Surveyor before enlisting in the 7th Light Horse.
During World War 2, Joe enlisted and served in the 6th Australian Motor Regiment. He was discharged in Sydney on 7th August 1942. His enlistment number was N3403. His rank is shown on his Certificate of Discharge was Warrant Officer Class 2.
The family oral history is that Joe was a part time jockey and later a part time race horse trainer in Tocumwal. When I was about seven years old, my mother took me on a holiday to Tocumwal. At that time, Joe was operating a milk bar in Tocumwal.
Joe never married, and he lived the rest of his life in the town of Tocumwal on the banks of the Murray River.
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