Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Jack Lionel Aloipions Coonan

(1894-1969)

Jack Lionel Aloipions Coonan was a soldier who served in the World War 1 as part of the 12th Reinforcement for the 11th Battalion from 1915 to 1916, after which he entered the 4th Division/51st Battalion where he served his country gallantly and courageously, enduring pain and trauma, on the Western Front, throughout 1916 to 1918, up to the time where he was deemed unfit for service and returned home on the 14th of October, 2019.

Before the war

John “Jack” Lionel Aloipions Coonan was born in 1894  Adelaide, South Australia., to William Thomas Coonan and Lily Evelina Zilla Mildren Coonan. Both of Jack’s parents were born in South Australia. Jack had 3 brothers. Jack was raised as a Roman Catholic, and attended Christian Brother’s College (Australian War Memorial 2016)

At age 28, Jack had worked for 14 years as a Moulder at the SA Railways. (NAA, B2455, Adelaide/Keswick, Attestation paper and certificate of medical examiner 1915)

Before enlisting, Jack spent one year as a Senior Cadet and 3 years in the Citizen’s Forces. (NAA, B2455, Attestation paper, Adelaide, 1915)

Jack enlisted to the AIF (Australian Armed Forces)on the 2nd August, 2015, at the age of 28 years, 8/12 months at Exhibition, Adelaide.  His attestation records show at the time of his attestation, his next of kin was his mother Lily, of 141 Brown Street, Adelaide. (NAA, B2455, Attestation paper, Adelaide, 1915)

Jack’s service number at enlistment was 4022, and his unit and rank, Bugler, Private.  (NAA, B2455, Certificate of Attestation, Adelaide, 1915) During WW1 Buglers had varied roles, one sounding the daily calls or duty to being messengers.  Jack was announced as medically fit for service.

Jack was stationed at Keswick Barracks from 2nd August 1915 to 22nd November 1915 where he trained leading up to his embarkation. (NAA, B2455, Base records, Keswick, 1915)

During the war

Jack was appointed as part of the 12th Reinforcements for the 11th Australian Infantry Battalion on the 16th of October 1915. (NAA, B2455, statement of service, Keswick, 1915-1917)

He embarked the RMS Mongolia, on 22nd November, from Fremantle WA, and made the journey to Port Suez in Egypt (University NSW, 2016) (birtwistlewiki,  n.d).

Once in Egypt, Jack was one of 367 Reinforcements from Australia to replenish the 11th Battalion that had that withdrawn from Anzac Cove in November 1915 and made their way to Egypt, to assist in protecting the Suez Canal. At the time in Port Suez, A German led Ottoman Army was at war with the British Empire-protected Suez Canal, as part of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. (Australian War Memorial, 2021; NAA, B2455, statement of service, Keswick, 1915-1917)

The 11th Infantry Battalion were responsible for digging and building trenches in Gebel Habeita throughout January and February 1916, and in assisting with the protection of the Suez Canal from Ottoman forces. (Image 1 and 2; AWM, n.d)

On 8th February 2016, whilst undertaking protective duties as part of the 11th Battalion in Egypt, Jack was admitted to the No. 1 Australian General Hospital (1AGH) at the The Heliopolis Palace Hotel Cairo.  He was suffering from Influenza. (Museums Victoria n.d; NAA, B2455, casualty form-active service, 1915-1918)

Once released from hospital Jack was part of a reorganization of the AIF, where the 11th Infantry Battalion was split to help form the 51st Battalion in March 2016.(AWM n.d)

The Battalion became part of the 13th Brigade of the newly formed 4th Division bound for the Western Front in France and Belgium.

Jack and the 51st Battalion travelled Via Serapeum on the 9th of April 2016, and Alexandria on the 5th of June 1916

Records show Jack and potentially the 51st Battalion, were taken on strength to the support the (B.E.S) British Expeditory Services bound for the Western Front in France.

Jack, with the 51st Batallion boarded the HMT Ivernia in Alexandria, which disembarked in Marseille 12th June 1916. (Birtwistlewiki n.d; NAA, B2455, statement of service, France, 1915-1917)

The 51st Battalion took part in the bloody trench warfare at the Western Front, with its first major battle at Pozieres Somme Valley in July 2016. (AWM, n.d)

It was here that Jack was wounded and suffering shell shock, and admitted to the 2nd AGH, Bolognue France on the 7th of July.  He remained in hospital up to his release on the 11th of July, at which time he was transferred to the 1st AGH in Harefield England. This was a hospital for Casualties from France who required surgery or were amputees. (ANZAC day Commemoration committee, 2019; NAA, B2455, casualty form-active service, France, 1916)

It appears Jack remained in England from 11th July 2016 while convalescing in Hospital after which time, he was sent to Command Depot number 1, in Perham Downs to convalesce and continue his recovery.  The timelines for his convalescence at Command Depot 1 extended into March 2017. (NAA, B2455, casualty form-active service, France/England, 1916-1917)

From 1st February 2017 - 27th March 2017, whilst in Perham Downs, Jack went AWL, leaving without permission and travelling without a warrant. This was his second AWL offence at Perham Downs also having been AWL for several days in November 2016 (NAA B2455, statement of service England, 1917).

He was held on 15th May 1917 for those offences as well as failing to attend draft parade as required. (NAA, B2455, Proceedings of court martial held for trial, England, 15/5/17)

He was found guilty and sentenced to 6 months in a hard labor prison. He did not serve his sentence, however, had to forfeit 26 days pay. (NAA, B2455, Proceedings of court martial held for trial, England, 15/5/17)

On the 13th of June 1917, he was taken on strength from the 51st Battalion to reinforce the 70th Battalion. The 70th Battalion was set up as a 6th Division in France, however, it never saw combat and it was disbanded in October 2017(AWM, 2019;NAA, B2455, statement of service, England, 29/3/17-3/11/17)

On 19th October 1917, Jack was ordered to rejoin the 51st Battalion in Belgium, participating in the third battle of Ypres. (Imperial War Museums, 2022; NAA, B2455, statement of service, England, 29/3/17-3/11/17)

Jack returned to Hospital on the 30th of January 1918, and on the 8th of February was admitted to the Royal Victoria Military Hospital in Netley, England, suffering Albuminuria, or kidney disease. (The Wartime memories project, n.d; NAA, B2455, casualty form-active service, France/England, 1918)

From that point on Jack spent time in 3rd Australian military Hospital in Dartford up mid-April. (ANZAC day commemoration committee, 2019)

It is assumed Jack returned to France as records show he was transported via hospital ship SS Brighton IV across the channel back to England from France on the 8th of July 1918. (NAA, B2455, casualty form-active service, England, 1918)

Jack returned to Australia via the SS Carpentaria, on 14th October 1918.  He was suffering from Neurasthenia which is an emotional disturbance characterized by headaches, fatigue and irritability. (NAA, B2455, casualty form-active service, England, 1918; NAA, B2455, Base records, Keswick, 1915)

He was discharged from the Australian forces on 9th March 2019, after serving 3 years, 220 days, of which he was overseas for 2 years, 317 days.  He was deemed medically unfit for service. (NAA, B2455, Base records, Keswick, 1915)

After the war

Upon his return from War, Jack married Dorothy Ethel Coonan in 1921.

He continued to work at the railways, completing 42 years' service.

He passed away in 1969 at age 74. (Family search Australia, 2023)

Rest in Peace Jack.

A man, a soldier, a patriot, a companion, a hero.

Reference list

ANZAC day commemoration committee (2019). Australian WW1 Hospitals - ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee. [online] Anzacday.org.au. Available at: https://anzacday.org.au/australian-ww1-hospitals.

Australian War Memorial (2019). Home | The Australian War Memorial. [online] Awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/.

Australian War Memorial (2021). First World War 1914–18 | The Australian War Memorial. [online] Awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/first-world-war.

AWM (n.d.). 11th Australian Infantry Battalion. [online] www.awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51451#:~:text=After%20the%20withdrawal%20from%20Gallipoli%2C%20the%2011th%20Battalion.

AWM (n.d.). 51st Australian Infantry Battalion. [online] www.awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51491.

AWM (n.d.). 70th Australian Infantry Battalion. [online] www.awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51508 [Accessed 30 Mar. 2023].

AWM (n.d.). Gebel Habeita, Egypt. 13 January 1916. The preliminary excavation for trenches by 5th Field ... [online] www.awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C386372.

AWM (2013). Roll of Honour | The Australian War Memorial. [online] Awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/honour-rolls/roll-of-honour.

AWM collection (n.d.).

AWM collections (n.d.). Port Suez, Egypt. c. 1916. Australian soldiers disembarking from their transport ship. (Donor J. ... [online] www.awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C302525.

Birtwistlewiki (n.d.). HMT Ivernia - Our Contribution. [online] www.birtwistlewiki.com.au. Available at: https://www.birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/HMT_Ivernia.

birtwistlewiki (n.d.). RMS Mongolia - Our Contribution. [online] www.birtwistlewiki.com.au. Available at: https://www.birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/RMS_Mongolia [Accessed 30 Mar. 2023].

birtwistlewiki.com.au. (n.d.). HMAT A24 Benalla - Our Contribution. [online] Available at: https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/HMAT_A24_Benalla.

Family Search Australia (2023). [online] Familysearch.org. Available at: https://www.familysearch.org/australia/.

Following the Twenty Second (2019). Training Camps: England. [online] Following the Twenty-Second. Available at: https://anzac-22nd-battalion.com/training-camps-england/.

Guilford ANZACS (n.d.). MILITARY ABBREVIATIONS USED IN WW1 & REFERENCE SOURCES | Guildford Anzacs. [online] www.guildfordanzacs.org.au. Available at: https://www.guildfordanzacs.org.au/military-abbreviations-used-ww1-reference-sources#:~:text=AFC.%20Australian%20Flying%20Corps.%20AGH.%20Australian%20General%20Hospital. [Accessed 30 Mar. 2023].

Imperial War Museums (2022). What You Need to Know About the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). [online] Imperial War Museums. Available at: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-third-battle-of-ypres-passchendaele.

Museums Victoria (n.d.). Photograph - No. 1 AGH, ‘The Palace’, Heliopolis, Egypt, World War I, 1915-1917. [online] Museums Victoria Collections. Available at: https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/2450261#:~:text=The%20Heliopolis%20Palace%20Hotel%20in.

National Archives of Australia (2019). Home page | naa.gov.au. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://www.naa.gov.au/.

State Library of WA (n.d.). Trench built by 11th Battalion at Gebel Habieta, Egypt, February 1916. - State Library of Western Australia. [online] slwa.wa.gov.au. Available at: https://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3599588.

University of NSW (2016). The AIF Project. [online] Adfa.edu.au. Available at: https://aif.adfa.edu.au/aif/.

Vwma (2019). Australian Soldiers, Memorials and Military History. [online] Vwma.org.au. Available at: https://vwma.org.au/.

Wartime memories project (n.d.). Royal Victoria Military Hospital, Netley in the Great War - The Wartime Memories Project -. [online] wartimememoriesproject.com. Available at: https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/hospitals/hospital.php?pid=18506