O'LOUGHLIN, Patrick
| Service Number: | 2419 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Richmond, Victoria, Australia, 1868 |
| Home Town: | Richmond (V), Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Woolclasser |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 26 August 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Serre Road Cemetery No.2 Beaumont Hamel, France Plot XXXVII, Row B, Grave No. 8 (Remains discovered 1930) |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2419, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2419, 24th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 29 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2419, 24th Infantry Battalion, RMS Osterley, Melbourne |
Help us honour Patrick O'Loughlin's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Nicknamed ‘Toots’, O'Loughlin played 85 games for Richmond from 1887-1892 in the VFA and captained the Club for 18 games in the 1889 season. His occupation on his service record was ‘wool classer’. His death was listed in the 1916 Richmond Annual Report.
O’Loughlin enlisted at the age of 47, stating on his enlistment papers that he was 41 years of age. He was married to Annie Elizabeth in 1893 and was the father of three children, the youngest aged 16.
The Richmond Guardian of 21 October 1916, reported the following,
“Playing the greater game in France, the bell has rung for Private Patrick J. O'Loughlin. He has been killed in action. Best known as "Tats" or "Toots." O'Loughlin was formerly a leader in several branches of sport. As a footballer, he played many a good game with the yellow and black League team for a period extending over many seasons. He also donned the Melbourne colors for some years. As an oarsman he did splendid work for the local club, and his victories as a runner were many. Born in Richmond, he attended St. Ignatius' school, and. subsequently became a wool-classer. Enlisting, he was sent to Egypt, and after four days there went on to Gallipoli. Wounded in the leg and with a touch of enteric, he was invalided to Egypt. Subsequently he went to France amongst the first Australians, and served six months there. He sailed on September 29, 1915, and news of his death arrived on the same day a year later. He leaves a widow, two daughters and a son. The family formerly resided in Wellington Street, but are now at 325 Punt Road. A letter from a soldier comrade states O'Loughlin was killed outright on the night of August 27. The writer also mentions that, a sport to the last up to a week before he was killed, he trained "Snowy" Paterson, who won the championship of the 2nd Division. Shining above his prowess on the athletic field, however, was his worth as a citizen, his charity and his comradeship. Many will mourn for ‘Toots’.''
In the Red Cross Wounded and Missing file of 638 Private William Hyder is the following report,
“Hyder was killed at the right of Mouquet Farm. He was buried by a shell; about 20 yards of trenches was blown up and it buried Hyder together with Pte. Pink, Hardwicke, O’Loughnan and others. It was impossible to dig them out. It was at night.” 2116 Private S. Benson 6th AIF, T.M.B., War Hospital, Dustan, Northhampton. 3 March 1917.
Amazingly in late 1930, 14 years after their deaths, the remains of Privates Hyder, Pink and O'Loughlin were all discovered in the same spot at Pozieres. All were identified by their discs. A fourth unknown Australian soldier was found with them, "with Australia titles, 2 discs (illegible), and a knife marked C.LYNCH and WILSON. All four bodies were reburied in graves B5, B6, B7, and B8, Plot 37 of the Serre Road Cemetery No.2 Beaumont Hamel, France.
Patrick O’Loughlin’s wife had died in 1929. His identity disc was returned to one of his daughters, Ethel May O’Loughlin in late 1930.
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