KELEHER, Joseph Francis
| Service Number: | 2698 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 18th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bowral, New South Wales, Australia, February 1898 |
| Home Town: | Bowral, Wingecarribee, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia , 5 August 1954, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, New South Wales Catholic 3B, 527 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2698, 18th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 2698, 18th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 2698, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Joseph Francis Keleher was the son of John and Mary Keleher, of Bowral, New South Wales. He was one of four brothers who enlisted and served in WW1.
Joseph enlisted with his twin brother, James Martin Keleher during November 1915, about four months before their 18th birthday. They were both in the 18th Battalion but were transferred to the 3rd Battalion in Egypt.
During the 3rd Battalion’s first big battle on the Western Front, at Pozieres, James Keleher was killed in action. Joseph was wounded in the same action and evacuated to England. He was sent back to France during October 1916 and was transferred to the 54th Battalion.
Meanwhile Joseph’s father, John Keleher passed away back in Bowral during February 1917. On 29 May 1917 he wrote to AIF headquarters,
“I hereby ask for permission to return to Australia on account of my father’s death who died on the 18th February. I have one brother serving with the 57th Battalion and another brother killed in action late 2696 3rd Battalion. My desire to be returned is on account of no one to look after my mother at home. (Sgd.) 2696 Pte. J.F. Keleher.”
Permission was initially refused but the mother, Mrs. Mary Keleher wrote directly to General Birdwood, asking for he youngest son to be returned home, on the basis she had four boys in France, one had been killed and she needed him as her support on the farm. Joseph was returned to Australia by order of the GOC AIF on 20 December 1917.
His eldest brother, 2487 Lance Corporal Thomas Keleher 57th Battalion AIF, was killed in action in Belgium on 25 October 1917, aged 28.