Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Australian World War One veteran, Private Joseph Patrick Mahon (enlisted as Patrick Clancy, service number 2366), is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with a plaque recognising their service for Australia.

We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 15 April 2023, along with a further 246 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

Joseph Patrick Mahon was born on 15 August 1860 in Dublin Ireland, to Patrick Mahon and Bridget Mahon (nee Crawford).

Patrick Clancy, later identified as Joseph Patrick Mahon, enlisted at Junee, New South Wales, on 12 March 1917. He stated that he was born in Dublin, Ireland, and was aged 43 years and one month; in fact, he was about 56½ years old at the time. His occupation was listed as railway employee and his brother, Robert William Clancy, of Dublin was recorded as next of kin. He acknowledged prior military service of ten years in the “Imperial Service – Rifle Corps.”

Clancy embarked from Sydney on 11 June 1917 aboard HMAT Port Lincoln and disembarked at Suez on 6 August 1917. Upon arrival in Egypt, he was taken on strength at Moascar and assigned to the 4th Light Horse Training Regiment. Over the following months he experienced repeated medical issues, including boils on his right thigh, lumbago, myalgia, acute rheumatism, and septic finger infections. These conditions resulted in multiple hospital admissions at Moascar, Kantara, and Cairo, with intermittent returns to duty.

From late 1917 through 1918, Clancy moved frequently between hospitals, recovery units, canteen work, and Light Horse camps in Egypt and Palestine. He was often admitted for treatment and then returned to duty. He had several hospital stays, including on 22 and 24 September 1917, 9 December 1917, 6 April 1918, 11 May 1918, 15 June 1918, and again later in 1918 for a septic finger.

In March 1918, he was shown on the nominal roll of the Railway Construction Unit, 116th Company, and continued moving among camps and canteens through the remainder of that year. A medical board in June 1918 recorded “chronic lumbago,” but he was retained for light duties.

In early January 1919, he was admitted to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital with a septic finger. He returned to Australia in April 1919 and was subsequently discharged from the AIF.

The Repatriation Commission later confirmed that the soldier who enlisted as Patrick Clancy, service number 2366, was in fact Joseph Patrick Mahon. Mahon had submitted a statutory declaration on 10 May 1926 stating his correct name. The Commission acknowledged that departmental records had been altered and that his pension was being paid under his true identity. It also confirmed there was no doubt that Patrick Clancy and Joseph Mahon were the same person.

Private Joseph Patrick Mahon (aka Patrick Clancy) died on 3 December 1948, aged 88, and was buried three days later in Anzac Portion 7, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

After decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice. His identity has now been restored.

We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget.