MCCONKEY, Peter
| Service Numbers: | 226, 101, 517 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, 31 July 1867 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Died: | Illness (Pemphigus foliaceus), Townsville, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 20 May 1916, aged 48 years |
| Cemetery: |
Townsville (Belgian Gardens) Cemetery, Qld Belgian Gardens Cemetery, Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 226, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1899: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 226, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 448 notes 1st QMI embarked 1 Nov 1899 aboard Cornwall arriving Cape Town 13 Dec 1899. | |
| 11 Jun 1900: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 226, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier, notes invalided due to dysentery to hospital in England aboard Pavonia arriving 11 Jun 1900. | |
| 26 Oct 1900: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 226, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier, notes returned from England to Australia aboard Oruba arriving Brisbane 14 Oct 1900, discharged 26 Oct 1900. |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Nov 1914: | Involvement Private, 101, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Eastern embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Nov 1914: | Embarked Private, 101, 2nd Infantry Battalion, SS Eastern, Sydney | |
| 20 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 517, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 517 awm_unit: 2nd Tropical Force - Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN & MEF) awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-05-20 |
Help us honour Peter McConkey's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Peter McConkey served in both the South African (Boer) War and WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 226, 1st Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Second service was as a Private S.N. 101/517, Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force/2nd Infantry Battalion 2nd Tropical Forces AIF, WW1.
When he first enlisted in 1899 in the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private P. McConkey, single, Charles St, Paddington, Brisbane. This was his mothers address, he was living in Mackay at the time and was photographed with members of the "Mackay Transvaal Contingent" in The North Queensland Register, 6 Nov 1899.
He was invalided from service due to dysentery aboard Pavonia to hospital in England arriving on 11 Jun 1900. After recuperating he was returnded to Brisbane aboard Oruba where he was discharged on 22 Oct 1900.
He enlisted again in 1914 for WW1 and on his Attestation Paper, dated 18 Dec 1914, it was noted that; he was born at Belfast, Ireland, and was 47 years 6 months old; he was married and a plumber; his N.O.K. was his wife Mrs. E. McConkey, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane; and he had previously served 1 year in South Africa.
He took ill with malaria while on active service in New Guinea and was returned to hospital in Townsville where he passed in 1916 from a recurrence of complications with a skin disease. When he passed, family members gave his date of birth which was recorded by BQM Qld with his death registration.
Peter McConkey was born on 31 Jul 1867 at Belfast, Northern Ireland, a son to Joseph McConkey and Jane McConkey (nee Hodgson). He married Eliza Stewart on 30 Jul 1902 in Queensland and they had 1 child.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 452; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 82; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record).