Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

DRANEY  Henry  # 4150  15th/47th Battalion
 
It is doubtful that Henry Draney had any connection with the Caboolture district. The listing of his name on the Roll of Honour is in all probability down to his brother, Richard who lived for a time in Caboolture and whose son, Ronald Draney is also listed on the Roll.
 
Henry Draney was born in Toowoomba, one of 11 boys and a girl, to Henry and Rebecca Draney. Henry senior was of Irish heritage and had served in the Crimea at Balaclava and Sebastopol. Henry junior attended school at Toowoomba East State School and gained qualifications in clerical work and mining. By the time that Henry presented himself for enlistment at Rockhampton on 3rd September 1915, he was living at Many Peaks near Gladstone and stated his occupation as timber getter.
 
Henry’s enlistment papers record that he had initially named his father as next of kin but this was altered due to his father’s age (He was in his mid 80’s) to name his brother, Richard, as next of kin and sole beneficiary. Richard Draney was the Post Master at Caboolture at that time.
 
Henry reported to Enoggera where he was allocated as a reinforcement for the 15th Battalion. He embarked for overseas in December and arrived at Alexandria in Egypt on 19th February 1916. After the evacuation of Gallipoli, the AIF went through a massive expansion, more than doubling the number of divisions. New battalions were created by splitting existing battalions and then reinforcing both with new recruits. Henry was reallocated to the 47th Battalion.
 
The 47th was one of the last units to leave Egypt for the western front. In the time the 47th spent in Egypt, it had gained a reputation for poor discipline. When the battalion finally embarked for Marseilles in June 1916, several senior officers took the opportunity to consume alcohol on credit in the ship’s saloon. The newly promoted Regimental Sergeant Major Franz Koch had to be carried off the ship when it docked. Koch was summarily dismissed from the AIF. Drunkenness would continue to feature in the battalion’s history when the first pay was issued in France.
 
Soon after the 47th’s arrival in France, General Haig launched his big push on the Somme on 1st July. In spite of over 60,000 casualties on the first day, Haig was committed to pushing on. The newly arrived Australians were brought south to the Somme in July to continue the offensive. The objective was the high point of a ridge near the village of Pozieres.
 
In August, the 47th found itself manning the frontline under appalling artillery bombardments at both Pozieres and nearby Mouquet Farm. Casualties were heavy. Henry had by this time been appointed a wagon driver and was fortunate to come through the ordeal unscathed. The battalion commander was replaced after a less than satisfactory performance. When the 47th was withdrawn to reorganise and take on recruits, Henry was promoted to corporal.
 
The battalion under the command of Major Flintoff, a dentist from Perth, spent some time in rest areas in Flanders before being sent back to the Somme in November 1916. While relieving the 11th Battalion at Bernafray Wood on 14th November, Henry sustained a severe shrapnel wound to his lower back and buttocks. He was evacuated via a casualty clearing station to the 1st Australian Hospital at Rouen where he died of gas gangrene poisoning on 25th November aged 35.
 
Henry was buried with honours in the St Sever Cemetery which adjoins the hospital. Henry’s father in Toowoomba was notified of his son’s death which prompted Richard Draney to write to the authorities requesting that any future correspondence regarding Henry’s death should be directed to him as Henry senior was quite elderly. (In fact, the old man was heartier than the family thought. He lived until 1924, dying  at the age of 95). In due course, Richard took possession of service medals, a memorial plaque and scroll. Richard also received the 3/- per day that Henry had set aside.