Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry’s grave is unmarked at Balmoral Cemetery, Morningside, Brisbane, Australia and his story is featured in Friends of Balmoral Cemetery’s (FOBC) publication After the Fire. Page 23. To obtain a copy of this publication please contact: [email protected] Henry James (Dan) O’Loughlin was born to Patrick and Mary Ann (nee Craig) O’Loughlin in Corofin, Ireland in 1872. His father had served in the Royal Irish Constabulary. Henry came to Australia aboard the SS Merkara departing London and arriving in Brisbane on 23 November 1891.
On arrival, Henry joined the Queensland Permanent Artillery. He married Mary Elizabeth Lawlor on 16 April 1898. Their son, James Patrick, was born the following year, followed by Henry Joseph (1900) and Mary Catherine (1902). In 1903 as a member with the Queensland Permanent Artillery, Henry served as Sergeant Major of the Victoria Barracks on Thursday Island. Henry resigned from the Artillery in 1905 to join the Queensland Police Force as drill instructor at the Petrie Terrace Police Barracks. By 1912, Henry had left his family and had moved to Toowoomba where he worked as a night watchman. While visiting Brisbane, he was apprehended for failing to provide the regular stipend for the support of his three children and was in arrears to the sum of £4 10s. Henry was ordered to pay the outstanding amount plus court costs or, in default, serve one month in prison. Henry chose prison. Henry enlisted, on 9 September 1914 to serve with 17th Division Ammunition Park. He gave his age as 40 and listed his wife living at Quay Street Bulimba as his next of kin. He embarked on 22 December 1914 aboard the HMAT A40 Ceramic from Melbourne. In April 1915 Henry, as a Sergeant Major, was admitted to hospital in Alexandria with Chlorodyne poisoning. Chlorodyne was a highly addictive patent medicine for pain relief and treatment for diarrhea. Its active ingredients included chloroform, opium, cannabis and alcohol. He was discharged from hospital in May 1915 and proceeded to the Dardenelles. While serving at Gallipoli he was mentioned with Honours for the following action: “On the 14th July 1915, an enemy shell struck a stack of 18pdr ammunition in the Australian Division Ammunition Park adjoining the Australian Ordinance Depot setting it ablaze. The work of throwing sand and water upon the flames was immediately taken in hand, and though a second shell fell in the immediate vicinity to the working party, and set fire to another lot of ammunition, work was not relinquished until both fires had been extinguished.” In September 1915, Henry was again admitted to hospital in Alexandria, on this occasion for the treatment of serious and acute alcoholism. After treatment, Henry returned to the Dardanelles to be promoted to Warrant Officer First Class in November 1915. He proceeded to France and disembarked in Marseilles in June 1916. Henry served with the 15thField Artillery Brigade until he injured his left knee while not on military duty. Henry was sent to England ‘for a change’ in May 1917 returning to Australia aboard HMAT A33 Ayrshire on 19 July 1917. Henry was discharged on 29 August 1917 and received the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. By 1925, Henry was living with his wife, and their son Henry Joseph, in Riding Road, Bulimba. He recorded that he was employed as a soldier. By 1931 his son had moved out of the home and Mary found employment as a nurse. Henry was also a member of the Casket Office, where he adjudicated the drawing of the art union.Henry passed away at the Mater Hospital on 3 January 1939. On his death certificate his aged is recorded as 66 years and the cause of death as congestive cardiac failure, hypertension, uraemia and cystitis. He was survived by his wife and three children. He was laid to rest beside his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Lawlor. His grave is unmarked in Section 5 Plot 428B in Balmoral Cemetery. A previous burial had taken place in this grave of a stillborn baby in 1918 (Lawlor). The grave would also become the final resting place for his wife Mary and daughter Mary. Henry was survived by his wife Mary and children; James. Henry and Mary. Mary (snr) was living at 93 Glenora Street Wynnum when she passed away in 1953. Son Henry Joseph, married Esther Monica Atkinson on 11 Dec 1929. When Henry Joseph enlisted for service in the Second World War they were living at 84 Stephen Street Morningside and had four children. Henry died on 17 May 1977. Son Henry Joseph passed away on 28 Mar 1968..
Mary Catherine married Frederick William Palmblad on 25 April 1923 and settled at Wynnum. She had at least four children, one named Noel. Mary passed away on 21 May 1968.
FOBC would like to contact relatives to assist them in applying to Department of Veterans Affairs for a war grave for Henry James O’Loughlin. Please contact by replying to this post or [email protected]