MCMAHON, Patrick Francis
| Service Number: | 158 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 December 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | Railway Unit (AIF) |
| Born: | Fairy meadow (Wollongong), New South Wales, Australia, 27 August 1890 |
| Home Town: | Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Illness, France, 30 April 1919, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hamilton Loco Employees Great War Honour Roll, Hamilton War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Dec 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 158, Railway Unit (AIF) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, Railway Unit (AIF), Appointment confirmed on 16th January 1917 | |
| 7 Feb 1917: | Involvement Corporal, 158, Railway Unit (AIF), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Feb 1917: | Embarked Corporal, 158, Railway Unit (AIF), HMAT Wiltshire, Sydney | |
| 30 Apr 1919: | Involvement Corporal, 158, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 158 awm_unit: 6th Australian Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1919-04-30 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Patrick Francis McMAHON was born on 27th August 1890 at Fairy Meadow in Wollongong, NSW, and he went to school at Fairy Meadow as well. His parents were Patrick and Mary McMahon.
On 3rd November 1908 he became a cleaner (permanent) in the NSW Government Railways and Tramways Locomotive Branch at Eveleigh, having been previously employed on a casual basis. On 24th November 1909 he transferred, as a cleaner, to Wellington, NSW. He received an increase in grade to fireman with effect from 23rd September 1911. On 6th October 1911 he transferred to Picton, NSW. He remained there until 16th March 1914 when he transferred to Goulburn with an increase in grade to fireman’s Instructor. From Goulburn he transferred to Hamilton in Newcastle, still as a fireman’s Instructor, on 15th May 1915. He stayed at Hamilton until 21st December 1916 when he was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces.
Patrick’s service with the AIF officially began on 22nd December 1916. He had the rank of Private (Service Number 158) and he was initially allocated to the 1st Railway Section. He nominated his father, then living at Balgownie, NSW, as his next of kin.
On 1st January 1917, Patrick was appointed Acting Corporal and this appointment was confirmed on 16th January 1917. On 8th February 1917 he embarked for England aboard HMAT A18 ‘Wiltshire’ at Sydney and he disembarked at Devonport, England, on 11th April 1917. On arrival he went to the 1st Railway Section at Bordon where he stayed until he left for France on 14th May 1917. He had been posted to the 60th Company of the Australian Railway Operating Division.
In France he was detached to other units. On 1st August 1917 he was temporarily detached to the Railway Operating Division at Borre. On 5th September 1917 he was attached to the 23rd Miscellaneous Transport Company. His military record shows that on 20th January 1918 he was with the 28th Light Railway Company. He re-joined the 60th Company of the Australian Railway Operating Division on 24th March 1918.
Patrick is recorded as going to England on leave from the 6th Australian Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company on 24th July 1918. (Broad Gauge in this context refers to the normal public standard gauge railways of Europe.) While on leave he spent four days from 2nd August 1918 in hospital with naso-pharyngeal catarrh. After discharge he completed his leave and returned to duty with his unit in France on 13th August 1918. He was on duty when the Armistice was signed on 11th November 1918 and he remained on duty until 22nd January 1919 when he was admitted to the 30th General Hospital at Calais with an illness that was categorised as ‘not yet diagnosed’.
Over three months later, on 28th April 1919 he was classified as dangerously ill, with pneumonia. On 30th April 1919 he died from the effects of his illness.
Patrick’s grave is in Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte, Nord Pas de Calais, France. His place of association is Wollongong, NSW.
Patrick was one of three brothers who served in the AIF. One of his other brothers, Frederick McMahon (Service Number 4501) of the 45th Infantry Battalion, was killed in action at Messines on 7th June 1917. His other brother, Joseph, survived the war having served for four years.
For further information see: 6th Australian Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company. Australian Railway History, v.61, no.878, Dec 2010, pp397-419
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.