James Cullen GAFFNEY MM

Badge Number: S514, Sub Branch: Parkside
S514

GAFFNEY, James Cullen

Service Numbers: 507, S70357
Enlisted: 20 May 1916, Mount Gambier, SA
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 2nd (SA) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
Born: Terowie, SA, 9 March 1899
Home Town: Highgate, Unley, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Bank Clerk
Died: Kingswood, SA, 20 June 1966, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
RSL Walls Wall 132 Niche B003
Memorials: Mount Gambier Knight & Cleve Pictorial Honour Rolls, Naracoorte and District Town Hall Honour Board WW1, Yorketown Kadina Union Bank WW1 Roll of Honor
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World War 1 Service

20 May 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 507, 8th Machine Gun Company, Mount Gambier, SA
16 Dec 1916: Embarked Private, 507, 8th Machine Gun Company, HMAT Medic, Melbourne
16 Dec 1916: Involvement Private, 507, 8th Machine Gun Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: ''
11 Nov 1918: Involvement Private, 507, 5th Machine Gun Battalion

World War 2 Service

11 Apr 1942: Involvement Corporal, S70357, 2nd (SA) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
11 Apr 1942: Enlisted Adelaide, SA
11 Apr 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, S70357
22 Oct 1945: Discharged

World War 1 Service

Date unknown: Honoured Military Medal

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Biography contributed by Kathleen Bambridge

Son of Bernard GAFFNEY and Bridget nee LYNCH

Private Gaffney was awarded his Military Medal by General Birdwood while he was visiting Adelaide from the United Kingdom, on 6 March 1920.

Military Medal

'From 1st to 5th September near PERONNE this man was a Section runner, and carried many messages under heavy shell fire. On the morning of 2nd September he volunteered to carry important messages forward. He had to proceed along the front line, and in the course of this duty was sniped at repeatedly. Machine gun and shell fire also made his task very difficult and dangerous, but he kept on steadfastly, delivered the messages, and returned with important information concerning the position on the flank. His conduct throughout was exceptional, and he set a fine example to his comrades.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 115
Date: 10 October 1919

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