Michael Joseph O'LOUGHLIN

O'LOUGHLIN, Michael Joseph

Service Number: 788
Enlisted: 1 March 1916
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 43rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Kapunda, South Australia , 11 October 1898
Home Town: Kapunda, Light, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: 25 June 1958, aged 59 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials: Kapunda District WW1 Honour Roll, South Australian Garden of Remembrance
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World War 1 Service

1 Mar 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 788, 43rd Infantry Battalion
9 Jun 1916: Involvement Private, 788, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: ''
9 Jun 1916: Embarked Private, 788, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide
26 Aug 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 788, 43rd Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", Wounded in action

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Biography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College

Michael Joseph O’Loughlin was born on the 11 of October 1898, in Kapunda, South Australia. Michael enlisted in the war at the age of 18 and 5 months and contributed to the war for a total of 3 years and 34 days which meant Michael left the at the age 21 and 6 months. Michael died 38 years later from an unknown cause at the age of 59. Michael was 5’ and 7 inches. Michael weighed 154 lbs (69 kilograms). He was a single man, and his next of kin was his mother Margaret. No other information was provided about Michael's family.

On the 1st of March 1916, Michael Joseph O’Loughlin enlisted in the AIF. The 43rd Battalion was Michael Joseph O’Loughlin's unit and was the last South Australian Battalion to be raised. In March 1916 the 43rd Battalion was raised and became part of the newly created 3rd Division. The 43rd Battalion was housed in Adelaide, South Australia at the Morphettville Racecourse where they practiced firearms and other drills. These practices were held in the sandhills of Glenelg and Henley beach. A practice attack was also rehearsed against the Hindmarsh Bridge. After training, he embarked for the war on the 9th of June, arriving at Marseilles on the 20th of July.

They conducted more training in England preparing for battles where they suffered a mumps epidemic. The Battalion travelled to France in November 1916 and throughout late 1916, 1917, and the first half of 1918, Michael was repeatedly hospitalised with various illnesses, including trench foot and influenza. on the 26th of August 1918 Michael was wounded in action, suffering a serious wound to his right thigh. This kept him out of action for the remainder of the war, and in January 1919 he left England to return to Australia.

Michael received various medals in honour of his service in war. They were the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Michael O'Loughlin died in 1958.

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