William John GEOGHEGAN

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GEOGHEGAN, William John

Service Number:	QX59229
Enlisted:	11 November 1943, Canungra, Qld.
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	Not yet discovered
Born:	Charleville, Queensland, Australia, 13 November 1923
Home Town:	Roma, Maranoa, Queensland
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Shed Hand
Died:	Flying Accident, At sea (between Ambon and Darwin), 19 December 1945, aged 22 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials:	Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Roma Cenotaph, Town of Roma & Shire of Bungil WW2 Roll of Honour

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Private, QX59229
11 Nov 1943:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, QX59229, Canungra, Qld.
19 Dec 1945:	Discharged

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Biography contributed by Mari Walker

Son of Edward Michael and Mary Ann Geoghegan, of Roma, Queensland, Australia.

Private William Geoghegan enlisted on 24 August 1942 with the Australian Military Forces serving with the General Details Depot, Brisbane. In November 1943 he enlisted with the AIF and on 7 Jan 1944 he embarked per “Gorgon” for Lae. Was then illegally absent and returned to Queensland where he also suffered illness. In June 1945 again embarked from Townsville for Morotai. Suffered further sickness and eventually emplaned at Morotai for Australia on 19 December 1945.

Pte Geoghegan was a passenger in Aircraft A65-83 (C47)/CIZ which left Ambon on 19 December in the early hours of the morning carrying 21 medical evacuees for return to Darwin. The last air contact was with Air Radio Darwin and hour or so later but there was no reply. An Air Sea Rescue Flight reported the aircraft as overdue to the Commanding Officer station in Darwin. Searches were made for 17 days but the aircraft was not heard of again and all on board were declared missing, with their date of death then given as 19 December 1945.

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