The AIF Project

Edward McCONNELL

Regimental number4592
Place of birthDunaghadee, Co Down, Ireland
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationHorse driver
Address36 Regent Street, Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Height5' 9.25"
Weight168 lbs
Next of kinFather, R McConnell, Drumford, Mill Isle, Dunaghadee, Co Down, Ireland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date20 January 1916
Place of enlistmentSydney, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name17th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/34/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A71 Nestor on 9 April 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll57th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


'There is no man among the many fine stretcher bearers this Battalion has known whose work has been more consistently excellent than that of Stretcher Bearer McCONNELL. The period covered by this recommendation, the closing phases of the fighting, saw him at his finest. A big, quiet fellow, he became quite a familiar figure on the battle field trudging backwards and forwards with his stretcher, occasionally with a new mate, but carrying on steadily till one wondered how or where he got his reserve of endurance. Day and night he worked and without doubt it may be said that he was the means of saving lives. His record of brave services extends far back in the history of the Battalion and whilst he figured in no brilliant exploit his consistent faithful brave service merits recognition.'

FateReturned to Australia 15 May 1919
Medals

Military Medal


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No 135
Date: 11 December 1919

Discharge date15 August 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

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Admitted to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, 18 May 1916 (venereal disease); transferred to No 1 Dermatological Hospital, Abbassia, Egypt, 19 May 1916; discharged to duty, 6 June 1916; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 19 days.

Transferred to 15th Infantry Brigade Details, 21 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 21 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 30 June 1916.

Taken on strength, 57th Bn, Etaples, 22 July 1916.

Admitted to 5th Casualty Clearing Station, 16 February 1917 (alcoholism), and transferred same day to 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital; transferred to No 1 General Hospital, 18 February 1917; to No 4 Convalescent Hospital, Havre, 24 February 1917; discharged, 3 March 1917; marched into No 5 Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples, 13 March 1917; rejoined unit, 19 March 1917.

To England on leave, 21 August 1917; rejoined unit, 6 September 1917.

Wounded in action, 26 September 1917 (contusion right forearm); rejoined unit, 1 October 1917.

Detached to 15th Brigade Headquarters for duty, 28 January 1919; rejoined unit, 4 March 1919.

Marched out to Australian General Base Depot for return to Australia, 24 March 1919; embarked Havre, 2 April 1919; disembarked Weymouth, England, 2 April 1919; marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 2 April 1919.

Commenced return to Australia, from England, on board HT ‘Orontes’, 15 May 1919; disembarked Sydney, 1 July 1919; discharged, 15 August 1919.

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, McCONNELL Edward

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