FLAHERTY, Patrick
| Service Number: | 1720 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 July 1915, at Keswick |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, June 1888 |
| Home Town: | West Beach, City of West Torrens, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Memorials: | Ceduna Merghiny Maltee & Waranda Pictorial Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1720, 32nd Infantry Battalion, at Keswick | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 1720, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 1720, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 7 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Transferred to 16th Battalion. | |
| 16 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 4th Pioneer Battalion, Transferred to 4th Pioneer Battalion. | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 1720 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
Patrick Flaherty was a strong and hardworking soldier. He fought to the best of his abilities and helped the Allies come out victorious in the war. Patrick Flaherty born in approximately February 1887. He was born in the town of Port Adelaide in the county of South Australia. Patrick had always been known as a hardworking individual due to his occupation as a farmer, before and presumably after the war. Patrick’s mother’s name was Mary. During the war, Mary was listed as Patrick’s next in kin as she was his closest living relative. Mary was recorded as having lived in Murat Bay, South Australia. This was always recorded because if anything happened to a soldier their next of kin would be the one to be notified. Patrick had brown hair and brown eyes with a fair complexion. He weighed 119 pounds (54kg) and was 5 feet and 3 ¼ inches tall when he enlisted. Patrick was a Roman Catholic. Patrick was 28 and a half years old when he first enlisted for the war.
Patrick Flaherty officially enlisted for the war on the 20th of July 1915 at Keswick, South Australia. His regimental number was 1720 and he was placed in the 32nd Battalion. The 32nd Battalion’s colours were yellow and white, and the battalion’s motto was ‘Audax Pro Patria’ which means ‘Bold for the Homeland’ in Latin. Patrick Flaherty trained with this battalion in Adelaide until they went to war on the 11th of January 1916. Patrick was sent to Egypt to complete more training but not long into this he was transferred to the 4th pioneer battalion whose colours were Purple and White. After this Patrick was sent to the Western Front with the B.E.F on the 11th of June 1916. After arriving in Europe, Patrick’s battalion was placed around Armentieres which was considered to be the quieter sector of the western front. Here the battalion got their first taste of trench warfare and gained some experience for when they would go into the more hectic sectors. The Battalion’s time in the ‘nursery’ sector was short because the battalion’s division was sent to replace the 2nd Division around Pozieres. They arrived in late July. Patrick fought in the final parts of the Battle of Pozieres. Not long after this they fought in the battle Mouquet Farm which had started during the battle of Pozieres.
Late in 1916 Patrick was sent to hospital due to illness. This did not improve and on 28th March he was transferred to England. In December he was returned to Australia for medical discharge, due to rheumatism.
There is little information about Patrick available from the conclusion of the war. It is unclear if he ever married or had a family. It is presumed that the war Patrick would have continued suffering with this disease because it is a form of arthritis which means that it has long term effects. After the war Patrick Flaherty was also awarded two medals for his time at war. These medals were the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.