DOOLEY, John Thomas
| Service Numbers: | 2617, 2617A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Shellharbour, New South Wales, Australia, 9 July 1890 |
| Home Town: | Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engine Driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 22 July 1916, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Goulburn District Railway Employees Great War Honour Roll, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 2617, 18th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 2617, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 22 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 2617A, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2617A awm_unit: 3 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-22 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
John Thomas DOOLEY, (Service Number 2617A) was born at Shellharbour, NSW, on 9 July 1890. He joined the NSWGR&T as a cleaner in the Locomotive Branch at Goulburn on 1 February 1909. On 24 July 1911 he progressed to the grade of fireman and on 5 April 1914 he was appointed to the grade of driver, based at Goulburn. On 21 July 1915 he was released to join the Expeditionary Forces.
John joined the AIF on 22 July 1915 with the rank of Private (Service No. 2617A).
Between 22 and 27 July 1916 he was killed in action at Pozières. He is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
A witness statement tendered at a subsequent enquiry stated: ‘He was in my platoon … There was a heavy bombardment going on and he was in a dugout in a support trench. I saw a shell land in just where he was and the whole thing was buried up. I knew him well he came over with us.’
Another witness stated: ‘on the 26th July 1916, at Pozières, I buried Dooley. I handed his disc over at 6 Consale Camp, Etaples. He appeared to have been dead for some days. I know Dooley who had friends at Goulburn, NSW.’
Submitted 17 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
John Thomas DOOLEY (Service Number 2617A) was born at Shellharbour, NSW, on 9th July 1890. He joined the NSW Government Railways and Tramways as a cleaner in the Locomotive Branch at Goulburn on 1st February 1909. On 24th July 1911 he progressed to the grade of fireman and on 5th April 1914 he was appointed to the grade of driver, still based at Goulburn. On 21st July 1915 he was released to join the Expeditionary Forces.
John joined the AIF on 22nd July 1915 with the rank of Private (Service No. 2617A). He was initially posted to the 6th Reinforcements and the 18th Infantry Battalion. He nominated his father, Dennis Dooley of North Goulburn, as his next of kin.
On 2nd November 1915 he embarked for Egypt aboard HMAT A14 ‘Euripides’ at Sydney. In Egypt he was transferred from the 18th Infantry Battalion to the 3rd Infantry Battalion on 14th February 1916. He embarked at Alexandria for France on 22nd March 1916. Sometime between 22nd and 27th July 1916 he was killed in action at Pozières. He is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
A witness statement tendered at a subsequent enquiry stated: ‘He was in my platoon … There was a heavy bombardment going on and he was in a dugout in a support trench. I saw a shell land in just where he was and the whole thing was buried up. I knew him well he came over with us.’
Another witness stated: ‘on the 26th July 1916, at Pozières, I buried Dooley. I handed his disc over at 6 Consale Camp, Etaples. He appeared to have been dead for some days. I know Dooley who had friends at Goulburn, NSW.’
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board