Owen William CARROLL MM

CARROLL, Owen William

Service Numbers: 1326, 1217, V5495
Enlisted: 7 December 1914
Last Rank: Warrant Officer Class 2
Last Unit: Army Training Units
Born: Camperdown, Victoria, 25 December 1897
Home Town: Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Paper Maker / Farmer
Died: Geelong, Victoria, 13 February 1971, aged 73 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Geelong Eastern Cemetery, Victoria
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

7 Dec 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1326
2 Feb 1915: Embarked Private, 1326, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Clan McGillivray, Melbourne
2 Feb 1915: Involvement Private, 1326, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Clan McGillivray embarkation_ship_number: A46 public_note: ''
26 Jul 1916: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1326, 8th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , Bomb wound to knee
8 May 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1326, 8th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second), Shrapnel wound right foot
16 Aug 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 8th Infantry Battalion
4 Oct 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 1326, 8th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, GSW left elbow at Zonnebeke/Broodsiende
14 Oct 1917: Honoured Military Medal, Third Ypres, Battle of Menin Rd 20/9/1917. When CO of D Coy Capt Gerald Evans MC fatally wounded, directed by CSM Harris (DSM this action), took D Coy forward through heavy barrage to assembly point. Although badly wounded continued to fight until position was consolidated.
8 Mar 1918: Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 1217

World War 2 Service

22 Aug 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Staff Sergeant, V5495
22 Aug 1940: Enlisted Private, V5495
10 Feb 1943: Discharged Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, V5495, Army Training Units, B Class Training

Help us honour Owen William Carroll's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Julianne Ryan

Born  25 December 1897  Camperdown, Victoria

Father Owen CARROLL (1914 - c/o Ferney Hotel, Newton, Geelong, VIC) and
Mother Annie Carroll (c/o Barwon Paper Mills, Fyansford, Geelong, VIC)
lived at Camperdown, Victoria

Next of kin in service:  (brother)
1324   Private Patrick Carroll (born Dec 1893)
           7th Infantry Battalion

           30/09/1914    enlisted in Geelong, Victoria          
           02/02/1915    embarked with brother 1326 Pte Owen William Carroll
                                from Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray
                                as a Private with 7th Battalion, 2nd reinforcements
           04/10/1917    killed in action at Broodseinde, Belgium
           08/10/1917    noted as:  buried off the Sunken Road, Belgium
                                               by 1st Anzac Corps Burial Officer
           No known grave
           His name is commemorated on:-
                               - Panel 7 of The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium
                               - Panel 49 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT

Owen was described on enlisting in WWI as 19 years of age; single; 5' 9" tall; 9 stone
9 lbs; sallow complexion; brown eyes; brown hair; Roman Catholic

He was noted as living with his parents and brother c/o Ferney Hotel, Newton, Geelong, VIC.

07/12/1914     enlisted in Geelong - #1326

25/01/1915     appointed to 2nd reinforcements, 8th Battalion, Broadmeadows Camp

02/02/1915     embarked with his brother Private 1324 Patrick Carroll
                      from Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray                    
                      as a Private with 8th Infantry Battalion, 2nd reinforcements

31/08/1915     sick with diarrhoea, admitted to No. Australian Casualty Clearing Station
                      transferred to Mudros, embarked onboard HS Scotian
05/09/1915     transferred to Malta, St David's Hospital
27/09/1915     embarked for England onboard HS Karoola
05/10/1915     admitted to Reading War Hospital, England
27/10/1915     discharged from Montazah Convalescent Hospital

14/07/1916     joined 8th Battalion in France

26/07/1916     Bomb wound to knee - received in action, France
27/07/1916     embarked on HS Aberdonian at Rouen, France for England
28/07/1916     shrapnel wound right knee - received in action 
                      admtted to Greylingwell War Hospital, Chichester

09/10/1916     marched in to 2nd Training Battalion
22/10/1916     proceeded overseas to reinforce 8th Infantry Battalion
16/11/1916     rejoined battalion in the field

08/05/1917     1326/1217 Private Carroll - shrapnel wound right knee - received in action
                      - 3rd occasion wounded
12/05/1917     embarked onboard HT St Denis at Boulogne, France for England
26/06/1917     discharged from 1st Auxillary Hospital, England

05/07/1917     proceeded overseas to France, ex Training Dept, Perham Downs, England

27/07/1917     Recommended for MILITARY MEDAL
                     "1217 Corporal Owen William Carroll.
                       During the attack on Polygon Wood east of Ypres on 20th September 1917
                       this N.C.O was in charge of the leading sectionwhen his C.O was wounded.
                       Directed by C S H Harris he guided the whole company throughout a very
                       very heavy barrage into the assembly position.  Although badly wounded
                       he remained on duty until 3rd objective (Ypres) was captured and refused
                       to go to the dressing station until the position was consolidated."

29/07/1917     rejoined battalion from hospital

16/08/1917     1217 - promoted to Corporal

21/09/1917     discharged from hospital for furlo (leave)

10/10/1917     4th occasion - wounded - gun shot wound to left arm/elbow
                      embarked onboard HT Pieter de Conick for England
11/10/117       admitted to Military Hospital, Devonport

05/11/1917     discharged from 3rd Auxillary Hospital, Weymouth (gunshot wound left elbow)

14/10/1917     London Gazette - awarded MILITARY MEDAL for bravery in France

10/01/1918      proceeded overseas to France, ex Overseas Traiing Brigade, Sandhill Camp
                      Longbridge, Deverill
25/02/1918      transferred to England for return to Australia

10/03/1918     returned to Australia onboard HS Durham Castle

21/08/1918     1217 Corporal Carroll was discharged from service

Medals:           1914/15 Star (8954); British War medal (8504);  Victory medal (8419)
                      Military Medal and Gallipoli medal

01/02/1919      Conditional Purchase lease 37 acres of land at Barrabool, near Geelong,
                       Victoria - for 37.5 years
                       (discharged soldier's settlement Act 1917)

Married:         Iris Eva Carroll (nee Hunter), lived at Bareena, Geelong, VIC
                     b. 1903 Mount Duneed, VIC - died 07/07/1978 Belmont, VIC
                     cremated in  Geelong Eastern Cemetery, East Geelong, VIC

Owen was described on enlisting in WWII as 42 years 10 months of age; 6' 1" tall; dark complexin;
blue eyes; brown hair;

22/08/1940      service #V5495
                      enlisted into WWII at Royal Park, Victoria - as a Private with 34 Unit

28/12/1940      to be Acting Sergeant at 2/22nd Training Battalion

01/02/1941      transferred to 6th Training Battalion, Dailey

20/03/1941      transferred to A A S C Training Depot

05/04/1941      detached to No.25 D&M Course

23/06/1941      promoted to Sergeant
                       detached to S/Bond Training School Course
13/07/1941      rejoined unit

23/04/1942      promoted to Staff Sergeant

03/08/1942      detached to No. 2 Course Instructor
22/08/1942      rejoined unit

13/11/1942      transferred out to M T Training Depot, B'Combe
14/11/1942      transferred to B Class Training Unit

23/01/1943      transferred to GOD - B Class Training
                      marched in from 3 ATB

last rank held:  Warrant Officer Class 2 Owen William Carroll
                       3rd Australian Infantry Training Battalion - Citizen Military Forces

10/02/1943      discharged from service - compassionate grounds

Medals:           General service medal; War medal; Australian Service medal

1943:              Mrs Iris Eva Carroll separated from Owen, leaving their farm

18 children:    
(Sadly 7 were stillborn)
Owen Patrick Carroll     (b. 1924 - d. 15/11/1957)
William Joseph Carroll   (b. 1926 - d. 28/04/1929)
Colleen Joy Carroll        (b. 1936 - d. 22/09/1983 - buried in Western Cemetery, Geelong, VIC)
Ethel Carroll                 (b. 1938 - d. Nov. 1938)
Neil Carroll                   (b. 19/12/1940 - d. 21/12/1940)
Stanley Carroll
Kathleen Carroll
Joseph Carroll
Shirley Carroll
Denis Carroll
Kevin Carroll

Owen left behind a defacto wife:  Mrs Anne Wakeling - who had been with him for many
years prior to his death.

13/02/1971      Owen Willliam Carroll died, Newtown, near Geelong, Victoria.
                       (stated by Fallow & Henderson solicitors on 19/07/1972)

buried in:         Geelong Eastern Cemetery, East Geelong, Victoria
                       (with two sons William Owen Carroll & Owen Patrick Carroll)

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  17/01/2017.  Lest we forget.

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Biography contributed by Evan Evans

Private Owen T Carroll was promoted to Corporal of D Coy of the 8th Infantry Battalion AIF in August. He was obviously a brave man being thrice wounded at 1. Pozieres (26/7/1916), 2. Second Bullecourt (8/5/1917) and finally 3. Zonnebeke/Broodseinde (4/10/1917).  This final wound finished his war.  These were three of the nastier battles that the AIF fought in WWI.

At the Battle of Menin Road, 20/9/1917, Owen with direction from the highly regarded CSM George Harris (DCM in this action), took over from their CO Capt Gerald Evans who was mortally wounded by an SOS Barrage approaching Clapham Junction (Menin Rd).  Both Harris and Carroll ensured D Coy was led through the barrage and into position.  Depite being badly wounded Cpl Carroll would not retire untill the Coy had attacked and fully achieved its objectives.  This was one of the red letter days for the 8th Battalion.

Capt D. Gerald Evans MC, Mid was my great uncle.

 

 

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