Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Michael Coffey and Susan Coffey nee Plunkett of Adelaide, SA

Brother of Maurice (Morris) James Coffey who returned to Australia during 1918 having served with the 10th Battalion, Arthur Thomas Coffey who served as Arthur Everard returning to Australia during 1918 having served with the Medium Trench Mortar, Edward Daley Coffey who returned to Australia during 1917 having served with the 5th Pioneer Battalion, Christopher Augustin Coffey, Annie May Coffey, Michael Francis Coffey, Louis Johnston Coffey who was killed in action on 10 June 1917 while serving with the 43rd Battalion and has no known grave, his name appears on Menin Gate. Florence Marie Coffey and Ruby Amelia Coffey.

Commenced return to Australia on 30 June 1918 board HT Carpentaria disembarking on the 4 October 1918 at Melbourne for onward travel to Adelaide

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Sylvester was the son of Michael COFFEY & Susan PLUNKETT and was born on the 7th of April 1881 in Gilles Street, Adelaide, SA.
He was known as Jack to his friends.

His parents were married on the 22nd of January 1870 in St Laurence’s Church, North Adelaide, SA.

His father was the son of James COFFEY and was born in 1843.
His mother was the daughter of Thomas PLUNKETT & Anne DALEY and was born in 1847 in Adelaide, SA.

Sylvester was the eighth child born into the family of 10 children.

His father was a commercial traveller and a Private in the SA Corps of Commissionaires.

Sylvester was only 5 years old when his little sister Ruby died on the 28th of December 1886, aged just 18 months. They buried her in the Catholic portion of the West Terrace Cemetery.
Sylvester was educated at the Christian Brothers College.

His younger sister Florence died on the 8th of January 1899 of pneumonia at their home and they buried her in the Catholic portion of the West Terrace Cemetery.

His brother Morris enlisted into the 2nd South Australian Mounted Rifles in December 1899 and embarked from Adelaide on the 26th of January 1900 on board the transport Surrey.

At the age of 19, Sylvester enlisted into the 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen on the 28th of January 1901 in Adelaide and was allotted the Regimental Number 476 (Trooper) and posted to C Squadron, No.1 Troop.

He sailed from Pt Adelaide on Saturday the 9th of February 1901 on board SS Ormazon, disembarking at Port Elizabeth on the 23rd of March.

Whilst he was in South Africa his older brother Edward was convicted of housebreaking on the 5th of August 1901 and sentenced to 3 years gaol with hard labour in the Adelaide Gaol.

Sylvester served in South Africa and then embarked from Cape Town on board SS. Montrose on the 27th of March 1902 and proceeded to Durban where he was transferred to the SS. Manchester Merchant and then re embarked on the 5th of April

Sylvester disembarked at Pt Adelaide on the 27th of April 1902 and subsequently disbanded and discharged.

Whilst he was in South Africa his parents had moved to 1. Cardwell Street, Adelaide and Sylvester moved back home.
He had just been home 6 months when his brother Christopher died at their residence on the 30th of October 1902. They buried him in the Catholic portion of the West Terrace Cemetery on the 1st of October.

The following month his brother Louis came home intoxicated on the 2nd of November and smashed the front door down with an axe and assaulted their father with a garden spade and broke his arm.

The following year the family moved to 177 Angas Street, Adelaide and then his father died from cancer on the 18th of October 1904. They buried him in the West Terrace Cemetery; Catholic Old Area, Grid B10, Plot 39.

Sylvester was unable to find employment and suffered with the drink, possibly with PTSD from the war, and was quite often fined for being drunk and disorderly in Rundle Street, Adelaide over the next eight years,

In February 1910 Sylvester was charged in Pt Augusta with being found by night armed with a loaded pistol and could not assign a valid reason. He was convicted of being idle and disorderly and imprisoned for 2 months. He was released on the 21st of April.

He had just been released from gaol when his mother died on the 30th of May 1910 in the Adelaide Hospital and they buried her in the West Terrace Cemetery; Catholic Old Area, Grid B10, Plot 39, with their father.

In March 1915 Sylvester moved to Mt Gambier to find work, but had returned by early May and was lodging at Mrs J Massey’s boarding house at 12 Pulteney Street.
His brother Edward had enlisted into 16th Battalion, 7th Reinforcements (2331) on the 8th of April 1915 and was in Mitcham Camp.
Edward’s wife Vivienne and his two children were also living in the boarding house at the same time.
On the 12th of May Mrs Mercy got no response from Sylvester after repeated knocking on his door and when she entered she was horrified to find Sylvester lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
By his side was a blood stained seven chamber revolver containing an empty shell.
Sylvester was taken to the Adelaide Hospital in a very exhausted state from a loss of blood.

He had first tried to shoot himself and when that didn’t work he cut his wrist and then his throat with a razor.
Sylvester was found to have a bullet wound in his temple; however it had not entered his skull and was able to be extracted.

On his discharge from hospital Sylvester was charged with attempted suicide and discharged to the Salvation Army to look after him until he was in a fit condition to enlist.

At the age of 34, Sylvester enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 24th of June 1915 in Keswick was allotted the service number 2341 and posted to the 27th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement in Mitcham Camp.

His brother Edward embarked on the very same day on board HMAT Kanowna.
But when the Kanowna arrived in Fremantle, Edward deserted.
After his capture he was forfeited 28 days pay and transferred to the 11th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement on the 9th of July. He was then discharged on the 24th of August, owing to his criminal history.

On the 16th of July 1915 Morris then enlisted into the 10th Battalion, 9th Reinforcements (Lieutenant).

Sylvester embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on the 13th of October 1915, disembarking in Alexandria and marching into Heliopolis Camp.

While Sylvester was serving in France his other 3 brothers enlisted:

*Edward then re enlisted into the 5th Pioneer Battalion, 4th Reinforcements on the 28th of January 1916 (2482).

*Louis enlisted into the 43rd Battalion, C Company on the 21st of February 1916.

*Arthur enlisted under the name “Arthur Everard” into the Medium Mortar Trench Battery, 7th Reinforcements on the 4th of January 1917.

Sadly, Sylvester would never see Louis again as he was Killed in Action on the 10th of June 1917 at Messines.

Sylvester served in Egypt and France before suffering a Stroke and paralysis in April 1918 and was invalided to England.
He embarking on the 30th of June on board HMAS Kanowna, but became very ill on the voyage, vomiting most of the way, and was admitted into the 8th Australian General Hospital when they arrived in Fremantle on the 24th of August.

He remained here until the 27th of September when he was discharged and embarked the following day on board HT Carpenteria, for Melbourne.
He disembarked in Melbourne on the 4th of October and entrained to Adelaide of the 5th.
Upon arrival in Adelaide he was admitted into the 7th Australian General Hospital at Keswick, remaining here until the 9th of December. During his time in hospital he went AWOL four times.

Sylvester’s leg improved but his arm was paralysed.

Sylvester was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit, on the 31st of December 1918 and awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.

Sylvester died on the 28th of March 1920 and was buried 2 days later in the West Terrace Cemetery; Catholic Old Area, Specific burial location unknown.

Militay

Boer War

At the age of 19, Sylvester enlisted into the 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen on the 28th of January 1901 in Adelaide and was allotted the Regimental Number 476 (Trooper) and posted to C Squadron, No.1 Troop.
The contingent consisted of 24 officers, 300 other ranks and 323 horses.

They sailed from Pt Adelaide on Saturday the 9th of February 1901 on board SS Ormazon at 4pm and anchored at the Semaphore until 2 pm on Sunday, when they drew anchor and started for the Cape of Good Hope with all well on board.

The sea was rough through the Bight which made a good many of the men seasick and Corporal Hodson was kicked by a horse and broke his leg.
Three days into the voyage it was found out that there was not enough fresh water on board to last through the voyage, so they had to steer for Albany, arriving there on the 16th at 8 am.

Permission to go on shore in the afternoon was much appreciated by Sylvester and his fellow troops and after loading enough fresh water to last the voyage, they prepared to continue their voyage, but not before 2 of their horses died whilst they were in Albany.

They drew anchor on Wednesday the 20th at 8 am and with a rough sea, saw the last of the Australian shore at 6 pm.
Good progress was mad for the next four days under splendid weather with S.E. winds.
Tempers began to fray and on the night of the 24th two of the ship's crew had a quarrel and one drew a knife and gave the other a terrible gash on the arm.

The following morning another horse died and then on the evening of the 26th the fine weather came to an end, when a change came up bringing a light rain and a heavy sea, which lasted for two days before it abated. During this time another horse had to be shot as it was too ill to stand the voyage.

Beautiful weather prevailed for the first two days of March before another sharp rain came on for a short time. The following day the weather was warm with N.W. winds and a rough sea and they ran into heavy rain that night.

They then ran into some very rough weather, with rain and slight thunderstorms and on the 7th of March they sighted a ship early in the morning, which turned out to be the Craigmore, 41 days from Port Pirie, loaded with wheat bound for Ireland.

The thirty days that they were paid in advance was up on the 9th and the occasion was celebrated by a straw horse being made, over which the burial service was held and the military salute fired by twelve of the sergeants who were dressed in all sorts of rig out and had their faces blacked and painted.
The effigy was dumped overboard amidst great cheering.

Two days later they ran into more heavy rain, but this time they had a nice cool breeze which blew all day. The following day they had a heavy sea and the ship rolled very much in the heavy swell.

Between the 13th and 15th they finally received fine weather and smooth sea before the heavy rain started again.
The coast of Africa was sighted early the following morning, much to the delight of all on board. One of the horses fell down a hold the same morning and was killed, but luckily three of the men had a very narrow escape, as they were working down the hold at the time.

On the night of the 16th a strong wind blew off the land and a fierce storm seemed to be raging on the land in the morning. Port Elizabeth was signalled this same morning and orders were received to proceed to Capetown and then on the 18th a strong wind blew last night accompanied with heavy rain and a heavy swell.

All through their voyage the ships company was very much appreciated in providing them with such good food and the troops thought if they fared as well in Boerland, they would go back to Australia as "fat as pigs."

Exercises were also held on a daily bases which included; manual, firing and saddle-packing.
Lectures were also given on scouting and outpost duty, discipline and army regulations. While Dr. Ramsay Smith gave short lectures on bleeding, fractured limbs and skull, bullet wounds, dislocation, sprains, unconsciousness, etc., and how to treat them until the arrival of the Doctor.
The following day they passed the Cape of Good Hope about 10 am and sighted the Table Mountain shortly afterwards. They steamed into Table Bay and cast anchor at 4 pm, about half a mile from the pier.
The chief Staff-officer came out in a punt and told the captain that they may have to go back to Durban as the plague was still raging in Capetown.

They turned back for Durban but instead they landed at Port Elizabeth on the 23rd of March and upon arrival they were taken to the Kroonstad district where they joined Colonel De Lisle.

On the 1st of May they took the town of Frankfort, the bullets were thick and six of the South Australian Horses were shot dead.
When Trooper McCauly’s horse was shot at Frankfort, young Sylvester rode out under heavy fire and rescued him.
Sylvester was heartily cheered for his pluck, for it was no easy thing to do, with the bullets whizzing round.

On the 18th of May the 6th contingent joined the column at Vrede and afterwards they worked together as a Regiment and did outstanding work in the north-eastern quarter of the Orange River Colony.

On the 6th of June 1901 they gained great distinction by the capture of a large convoy and by retaining practically all their captures, although the small mounted body which had effected them was most fiercely attacked by a strong force of Boers under De Wet and Delarey.

The despatch on the 8th of August 1901 contains several references to the fine work of the Regiment.
Lord Kitchener mentions that on the 29th of July a night march on Bothaville resulted in driving a number of Boers into the arms of Lieutenant Colonel De Lisle's South Australians, who captured 18 prisoners and 12 wagons and then on the 2nd of August Major Shea, with 200 of Colonel De Lisle's South Australians, made a gallant attack on Smut's commando at Grootvallier Farm, near the Vet River.

Unfortunately wire fencing, unseen in the darkness, prevented the complete success of the plan and enabled the Boers to escape, despite the fact that the South Australians pressed forward on foot with fixed bayonets.

Five Boers were left dead upon the ground, and 11 were captured, including Field-Cornet Wolmarans, of Potchefstroom.
By the 7th Sylvester and his Regiment were able to account for 40 prisoners, 147 wagons, 600 horses, and 2000 cattle.

After leaving Bloemfontein in August they trekked along the Basuto border and for the next two months they scoured the south-eastern portion of the Orange River Colony.
They then proceeded to Standerton and sent to relieve the late Colonel Benson’s force after the Brakenlaagte disaster.
The South Australians were the first to get there after riding 75 miles in 22 hours.

Sylvester embarked from Cape Town on board SS. Montrose on the 27th of March 1902 and proceeded to Durban where they were transferred to the SS. Manchester Merchant and then re embarked on the 5th of April

They disembarked at Pt Adelaide on the 27th of April 1902 and subsequently disbanded.

WW1

At the age of 34, Sylvester enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 24th of June 1915 in Keswick was allotted the service number 2341 and posted to the 27th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement in Mitcham Camp.
He listed his maternal aunt, Mrs Rose Corner nee Plunkett, of Kennilworth Road, Parkside, as his next of kin.

On the 27th of June he was admitted into the 7th Australian General Hospital in Keswick suffering from Delirium Tremens (alcohol withdrawal).
He spent nearly 4 weeks here before being discharged back to his Battalion on the 24th of July.

Sylvester embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on the 13th of October 1915, disembarking in Alexandria and marching into Heliopolis Camp.
Not long after they arrived he was admitted into the 1st Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis for 5 days suffering from constipation.
Christmas 1915 was spent in the Heliopolis Camp and then on the 31st of December Sylvester was admitted into the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital for 7 days, suffering again from constipation.

On the 26th of February 1916 Sylvester was tried by Field General Court Martial, in Zeitoun, on charges of -
(1) when on Active Service when in lawful custody attempting to escape on the 1st of December 1915.
(2) when on Active Service using insubordinate language to his superior Officer on the 1st of December 1915.
He was found 'Guilty' on both counts and awarded 6 months imprisonment with hard labour. But the sentence was then commuted to 6 months detention.

On the 20th of March he was admitted into the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital in Abbassia for three weeks, suffering from gonorrhoea.
On the 13th of June Sylvester embarked from Alexandria on board HMT Aragon, disembarked in Plymouth and marched into the 7th Training Battalion, in Rollestone.

He was then transferred to the 5th Pioneer Battalion on the 13th of August and then proceeded to France on the 12th of October. Three days later he was taken on strength with the 32nd Battalion who were in the field at Strazeele.

By the 21st they had moved to Mametz Wood and on the 31st they relieved the 29th Battalion in Crest Trench.
At 12.15pm Crest Trench was shelled heavily and Sylvester suffered from shell shock and was admitted into the 5th Field Australian Ambulance, who were at Y Corps Collecting Station at Bedordel.
Sylvester remained here for nine days before rejoining his Battalion in St Vast Camp, on the 9th of November.

On the 18th of November they moved to Ribemont and then march to H camp at Montauban two days later.
They then relieved the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards in the front line trenches at Trones Wood before moving back to H camp on the 24th of November.

On the 1st of December they moved back into the front line at Le Transloy and Sylvester suffered an injury to his right leg and suffering from trench feet and was admitted back into the 5th Field Australian Ambulance at Bedordel.
Four days later he was transferred to the 12th General Hospital in Rouen on the 5th.
He was evacuated to England on the 8th and admitted into Reading War Hospital the following day.

Sylvester spent Christmas 1916 here before he was discharged on two weeks furlough on the 17th of January 1917. He then reported to duty on the 1st of February at No.4 Command Depot in Perham Downs.
He then went AWOL on the 9th of February for nine hours and was admonished and forfeited 1 day's pay.

On the 14th of March he was transferred to No.3 Command Depot in Hurdcott and then posted as a Quarter Guard to the 70th Battalion in Wareham on the 27th of April.

He was then tried by District Court Martial on the 22nd of August 1917, for, without a reasonable excuse, allowing 2 persons to escape who were committed to his charge on the 25th of July 1917.
He pleaded 'Not Guilty'; but was found 'Guilty' and sentenced to forty five days detention at Windmill Hill and forfeited a total of 73 days pay.
After his release he was posted to the 8th Training Battalion in Hurdcott on the 11th of October and proceeded back to France three days later.

Sylvester was then taken on strength with the 32nd Battalion on the 26th of October, who were at Chateu Segard, near Dickebush.
The following day they moved to Montreal Camp, near Oudeardom and then onto Halifax Camp.
On the 6th of November they moved to Abeele and then onto Neuve Eglise on the 13th, preparing to move into the front line.
The following day they moved into the front line in the Messines Sector and were in and out of front line until the 9th of December when they were relieved and moved to Wulverghem in reserve.
Whilst in reserve they were used to carrying material to the front line.

On the 16th of December they moved to Desyres, near Boulogne and spent Christmas 1917 here. They stayed here, resting and training until the end of January.
On the 1st of February 1918 they moved into the front line at Gapaard, near Warneton, where they remained until the 22nd when they went into reserve at Gable Camp, near Wulvergheim.

On the 20th of March they were back in the front line and then moved to Wippenhoek on the 25th and onto Louvencourt by the 29th.
They then moved into the front line at Hamelet on the 10th of April and four days later, whilst under shell fire, Sylvester suddenly lost the use of his left arm.

He was admitted to the 11th Australian Field Ambulance at Querrieu and transferred the same day to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station at Longpré.
He was then transferred to Ambulance Train No 37 and admitted into the 10th General Hospital in Rouen on the 18th of April.

Sylvester was diagnosed with Hemiplegia (paralysis) to the left side of his body and Myalgia and evacuated to England the following day and admitted into the Military Hospital in Fovant.
He remained here until the 6th of May when he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield.

His medical records indicate that Sylvester had suffered a Stroke.
He had Paralysis to left side of his face, eyes were shut perfectly and severe drooping to the left side of his mouth and food collected in his cheeks when he attempted to eat.
His left arm was useless; he had wrist drop and vasomotor disturbance and loss of power in his left leg.

Sylvester was invalided to Australia, embarking on the 30th of June on board HMAS Kanowna. He became very ill on the voyage, vomiting most of the way, and was admitted into the 8th Australian General Hospital when they arrived in Fremantle on the 24th of August.

He remained here until the 27th of September when he was discharged and embarked the following day on board HT Carpenteria, for Melbourne.
He disembarked in Melbourne on the 4th of October and entrained to Adelaide of the 5th.
Upon arrival in Adelaide he was admitted into the 7th Australian General Hospital at Keswick, remaining here until the 9th of December. During his time in hospital he went AWOL four times.

Sylvester’s leg improved but his arm was paralysed.

Sylvester was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit, on the 31st of December 1918 and awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.