Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Enlisting, on 23 January, 1917 Warrnambool, Victoria born, 18 years of age, butcher, John James ‘Jack’ Gallagher, son of Manus Gallagher, was assigned to 8th Light Horse Regiment, 26th Reinforcements.

Sustaining gunshot wounds to his back, on 3 May 1918, at Es Salt, during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, Trooper John James ‘Jack’ Gallagher MM died of such wounds on that day to rest in eternal peace in Damascus British War Cemetery [Row 6], Damascus, Syria.

John James ‘Jack’ Gallagher

Died of wounds in Palestine on 5 May 1918, No. 3237. Trooper John J. Gallagher, 8th Light Horse, beloved second son of Manus and Lizzie Gallagher, loving brother of Dan, Tottie [Mrs. Carling, Grace, Vera, Dillon, Verney and Dymphna, aged 19 years

Family/military connections:
Cousins: 406 Douglas James GILLESPIE, Army Veterinary Corps, returned to Australia, 3 December 1918;
3043 Driver Wallace William GILLESPIE, 13th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 23 May 1917;
6647 Pte Gordon Charles GILLESPIE, 14th Bn, returned to Australia, 16 July 1917;
1165 Corporal Robert Bruce GILLESPIE, 14th Light Horse, returned to Australia, October 1919;
Francis Patrick GALLAGHER, 14th Bn, returned to Australia 5 March 1919;
John Francis GALLAGHER, 39th Bn; Killed in Action, 27 November 1916, Lesboeufs, France;
Thomas Bernard GALLAGHER, 37th Bn, returned to Australia 19 October 1917; Walter Henry JENKINS, 59th Bn, Died of wounds 30 September 1918.

Extended Family

Mary Gillespie, mother of twins David and Douglas, shared two brothers, Francis junior, along with Manus, as well as a sister, Ann Cecelia Gallagher.

Enlisting, on 11 March 1916, Lexton, Victoria born, 25 years of age, labourer, Francis Patrick Gallagher, elder son of Francis Gallagher junior, assigned originally to 38th Battalion, 1st Reinforcement, served with the 14th Battalion. Returning to Australia on 5 March 1919, Private Francis Patrick Gallagher, was, for 20 months, a prisoner of war, following his capture at Riencourt, northern France.

Enlisting, on 21 March 1916, Evansford, Victoria born, 22 years of age, farmer, John Francis Gallagher, younger son of Francis Gallagher junior, assigned originally to 39th Battalion, D Company, served with the 8th Battalion. Private John Francis Gallagher, on 27 November 1916, was killed in action in northern France.

Buried in Guards Needle Dump Cemetery, Lesboeufs, on the road to Flers, along with 23 soldiers from Australia and four from the United Kingdom, killed between October 1916-March 1917, Private John Francis Gallagher was posthumously awarded a Victory Medal as well as a British War Medal.

John Francis Gallagher

The sad intelligence that Private John Francis Gallagher had been killed in action in France came as a severe blow to his parents and relatives, and created the deepest regret amongst the residents of the surrounding district, who join in sympathy with the bereaved relatives of one who willingly made the supreme sacrifice for his King, and country. The late Private Gallagher, who was in his 23rd year, was always of a most cheerful disposition, and possessed of characteristics that marked him as a favourite with all. He was educated at the Evansford school, and had spent, the whole of his life in the district prior to his embarking with the 39th Battalion. He was ever foremost in all forms of recreation, and was a fine specimen of an athlete. Francis Patrick and Thomas Bernard, brothers of the deceased, are also on active service.

A third son of Francis Gallagher, 21 years of age, labourer, Thomas Bernard Gallagher, enlisted on 11 April 1916. Originally assigned to 7th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement, Private Tom Gallagher served, on the Western Front, with the 37th Battalion.

Sustaining, on 6 February 1917, a gunshot wound to his lower left jaw, Private Tom Gallagher returned to Australia on 19 October 1917.

Walter Henry Jenkins, the 22 years of age, Clunes, Victoria born son of Ann Cecilia Gallagher, was the fifth nephew of Mary Gillespie to enlist. Assigned, on 13 May 1916, to the 59th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement, Lance Corporal Walter Henry Jenkins, on 30 September 1918, died of wounds received on the Hindenburg Line, France, to be buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery, [Plot V, Row F, Grave No. 13], France.

Walter Henry Jenkins

Officially reported died of wounds on 30 September 1918 at 53rd Casualty Clearing Station, France, No. 2423, Private Walter Henry Jenkins, youngest son of Cecilia Jenkins, 134 Cubitt Street, Richmond, and the late Walter Henry Jenkins, of Clunes, dearly loved brother of Mrs. Gearman, Leonie and Frank, beloved brother-in-law of B. Gearman, Launceston. Aged 24.

Providing three sons of her own to serve their country in the Great War, twins, David Francis and Douglas; Wallace as well as Gordon, joining their five cousins, Mary Gillespie, on 8 February 1924, died at Carlton. Sixty-five years of age, Mary, of 4 McVean Street, West Brunswick, and Melbourne Zoological Gardens, the dearly beloved wife of the late James Gillespie, the loving mother of David, Douglas, Eva, Gordon, Hilda, Olive [Mrs. D. McArthur, Abbotsford], Bruce, Wallace.



His cousin, Walter Henry Jenkins, the 22 years of age, Clunes, Victoria born son of Ann Cecilia Gallagher, was the fifth nephew of Mary Gillespie to enlist. Assigned, on 13 May 1916, to the 59th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement, Lance Corporal Walter Henry Jenkins, on 30 September 1918, died of wounds received on the Hindenburg Line, France, to be buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery, [Plot V, Row F, Grave No. 13], France.