MOYNIHAN, Cornelius Johnson
| Service Number: | 277 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Warwick, Queensland, Australia, 1880 |
| Home Town: | Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Horse Breaker, Orchard Farmer, Councillor, Court Bailiff |
| Died: | Griffith, New South Wales, Australia, 2 August 1937, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Griffith Cemetery, New South Wales |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 277 | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 277, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 notes 6th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 4 Apr 1901 aboard Victoria arriving Cape Town 2 May 1901. | |
| 23 Jun 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 277, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 508 notes 6th QIB embarked at Durban 17 May 1902 aboard Devon returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 17 Jun 1902, disbanded 23 Jun 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
He served in both the South African (Boer) War and WW1, serving in two separate units in WW1. He is recorded as Cornelius Johnson Moynihan in the Boer War, and as Cornelius Joseph Moynihan in WW1.
First service was as a Private S.N. 277, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Note, he is the only Moynihan listed on the nominal roll. Second service was as a Driver S.N. 57, Naval and Military Expedition Force (Tropical Unit), AIF, WW1. Third service was as a Corporal S.N. 4819, Divisional Ammunition Column 1, AIF, WW1.
When he enlisted for the Boer War in 1901 in the 6th QIB and his photo and details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 13 Apr 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as Patrick Moynihan, Wallangarra, Qld. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 6th QIB, Bk 2 p. 67, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his father Mr. P. Moynihan, Wallangarra.
When he first enlisted for WW1 in Sydney on 12 Aug 1914 (S.N. 57) he noted on his Attestation Form that he was; born at Warwick, Qld; single; a horse breaker; N.O.K. was Mr. P. Moynihan, Wellcamp, Qld; and he had previously served in the Queensland Imperial Bushmen. After serving in New Guinea, he was discharged on 4 Mar 1915.
He then re-enlisted at Liverpool, NSW, on 29 Apr 1915 with the same details as above listed on his Attestation Form except for N.O.K., which was now his sister Mrs. Maggie Morrisey, Surrey Hills, NSW. He served in Egypt, Gallipoli and the Western Front (France) where he was wounded (severely gassed) and later was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry as per the following citation reproduced at the end of this bio. In his obituary published on 6 Aug 1937, see links, his service in the Boer War and the Great War were noted.
Cornelius Joseph Moynihan was born in about 1880 at Warwick, Queensland, a son to Patrick and Catherine Moynihan. He married Amelia G. Streeter in 1920 at Redfern NSW with his obituary in 1937 noting he was survived by his widow and a family of six.
At the time of his passing in 1937 he was residing at Griffith, NSW, and was a serving Councillor on the Wade Shire Council. When he first moved to Griffith he purchased an orchard farm and after leaving that occupation worked for the Justice Department as a Court Bailiff.
Military Medal citation
'For conspicuous gallantry, near BIRR CROSS ROADS on 14th September, 1917, when assisting two Officers in extinguishing a serious fire on an ammunition train and preventing the destruction of a considerable amount of ammunition and probably two guns near the train. The work was carried out at considerable risk from exploding ammunition.' signed N. M. Smyth, Major General, Commanding 2nd. Aust. Division. Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31, Date: 7 March 1918.
(Sources- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 515; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB, Bk 2 p. 67; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record; Obituary- Narandera Argus, 6 Aug 1937).
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