DOODY, Michael
| Service Number: | 1849 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 October 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Broken Hill, New South Wales, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer (Islington w/shops - S.A.R.) |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 11 December 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Picardie Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Peronne, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1849, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1849, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 11 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1849, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1849 awm_unit: 32nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-12-11 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Paige Adams
The late Private Michael Doody.
Service number: 1849
Enlistment date: 11th October 1915.
Michael Doody was born in Broken Hill, New South Wales but his date of birth is unknown (Doody, 14 October 1915). Michael was named after his father by his parents, Michael Snr and Bridget Doody. While details of his family are limited, it is known that he had an older brother. Michael was educated at Christian Brother’s Catholic School in NSW and later the Dominican Convent School in North Adelaide. After graduating Michael went on to become a labourer in Islington and was employed at the locomotive workshops (Adelaide Chronicle, 1917). Michael served 3 years in the AIR 10th before it was disbanded, however he had no previous service with the AIF before his enlistment, although his older brother served in the South African War (Doody, 14 October 1915) (Adelaide Chronicle, 1917).
When Michael was 25 years old, he completed the enlistment papers and undertook the oath on the 11th October 1915 to serve in the AIF until the end of the war and four months after, he joined on the 14th of October 1915 (Doody, 14 October 1915). At the time of enlistment Michael was 5 feet and 7 ¼ inches tall, he weighed 148 lbs and his chest width when fully expanded was 36 inches. He also had ‘tachycardia due to cigarette smoking,’ which he had to abstain from (Anon., 11 October 1915). Michael’s closest living relative at the time of his enlistment was his mother, Bridget Doody of Lower North Road, Islington, South Australia (Doody, 14 October 1915). When Michael embarked on his service in the war, his mother was dependent upon his full salary to support herself and keep their home in good condition (Doody, n.d.).
Michael embarked at Adelaide, South Australia on the H.M.A.T, A30 ‘BORDA’ on the 11th January 1916 headed for Egypt (AIF, 1916). After leaving Egypt, Michael is reported to have spent several months on Salisbury Plain, UK for training before being transferred to France. In France he was taken on strength to the 32nd Battalion from the 1st light horse reserve regiment and had spent some time in Etaples, a training camp which held exercises such as bayonet fighting, bombing, gas training and rapid fire (Australian Imperial Force, 1916) (Anon., n.d.). He had then been sent to the field somewhere in France, which was to be the last place he fought (Australian Imperial Force, 1916).
Unfortunately, Michael did not live to see the end of the war, he died in action at the age of 26 in France on the 11th December, 1916 (Australian Imperial Force, 1916). Michael was loved and respected by a large circle of friends (Adelaide Chronicle, 1917). The battle he had fought in when he had died isn’t clarified but although the details of his death aren’t specific, his bravery and sacrifice during his time in the war is not forgotten by those of us today.
References:
Adelaide Chronicle, 1917. THE LATE PRIVATE M. DOODY, 20 January, p. 44.
AIF, 1916. AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE ― NOMINAL ROLL― continued. s.n.
Anon., 11 October 1915. MEDICAL HISTORY. Adelaide: s.n.
Anon., n.d. 4503 Perkins EC, AIF. [Online]
Available at: https://ecperkins.com.au/the-story/etaples-the-final-preparation
[Accessed November 2017].
Australian Imperial Force, 1916. Casualty Form- Active Service. s.n.
Doody, B., n.d. Statutory Declaration. Chicago: s.n.
Doody, M., 14 October 1915. AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE. Islington: s.n.
Biography
"THE LATE PRIVATE M. DOODY.
Private M. Doody enlisted on October 11, 1915, and left for Egypt on January 11, 1916. After leaving Egypt he spent several months on Salisbury Plain. He was then transferred to France, where he was killed on December 4. Private Doody was educated at the Dominican Convent School, North Adelaide. Previous to enlisting he was employed at the Loco. Workshops, Islington, where he had been for several years. He was of a bright and happy disposition and was loved and respected by a large circle of friends. An elder brother served in the South African war." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 20 Jan 1917 (nla.gov.au)
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