CALLAGHAN, Alfred
| Service Number: | 1716 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 January 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Auburn, New South Wales, Australia , 1891 |
| Home Town: | Bankstown, Bankstown, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Sawyer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Belgium, 6 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar 1915: | Involvement Private, 1716, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Mar 1915: | Embarked Private, 1716, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Sydney | |
| 6 Oct 1917: | Involvement Sergeant, 1716, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1716 awm_unit: 3 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-10-06 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Alfred’s younger brother, 2881 Pte. Walter James Edward Callaghan, 59th Battalion AIF, died of wounds 16 September 1918, aged 23.
Alfred Callaghan joined the 3rd Battalion on Gallipoli, 31 May 1915.
He was wounded in action, 7 August 1915 (gun shot wound, head and neck) and transferred to Egypt. He rejoined his unit at Gallipoli, 3 November 1915 and eventually served until the general Gallipoli evacuation.
Alfred had no qualms about going absent without leave during 1916. He was six times charged with the offence and lost 118 days pay. He was promoted Temporary Corporal, Corporal, and Temporary Sergeant, in rapid succession during the early part of 1917.
He was recommended for a Military Medal for his good work using a Lewis Gun during the Pozieres fighting but no award was granted. He was awarded a Mentioned in Despatches, 9 April 1917, for his fearless and enterprising work with the Lewis gun. He was said to be first to volunteer for the most advanced and dangerous tasks. He was promoted to Sergeant, 18 August 1917.
Their NOK of the two brothers was their mother, Mrs Sarah Ann Callaghan, of Bankstown, New South Wales, their father having died during 1901 when the boys were quite young.
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