The AIF Project

Patrick O'CONNOR

Regimental number1663
Date of birth--/08/1884
Place of birthEchuca, Victoria
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationFarmer
AddressCollie via Gilgandra, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation31
Next of kinMother, Mrs Caroline O'Connor, Collie PO, Collie via Gilgandra, New South Wales
Enlistment date12 January 1916
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name45th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/62/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 14 April 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll45th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 24 August 1918
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: William and Caroline O'CONNOR. Plaque in New South Wales Garden of Remembrance.
Family/military connectionsBrothers: 1637 Pte Michael O'CONNOR, 45th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement, returned to Australia 8 April 1917; 1645 Pte George William O'CONNOR, 45th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement, Killed in Action 7 June 1917, Messines, France; 4888 Edmund Joseph O'CONNOR, 1st Pioneer Battalion, 14th Reinforcement, returned to Australia 25 September 1919.
Other details

War service: Western Front Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Brothers Patrick, George, and Michael marched together in the Kookaburra March from Toorawina in the Central West of New South Wales to Sydney. Later, their younger brother Edmund also enlisted, but Peace was declared before he arrived, and his job was to bury the dead and to find his brother George, who was missing in action.

Patrick died of TB as a result of being gassed in the war; and Michael contracted spinal meningitis which left him crippled.
Date of death14 July 1940
Age at death55
Place of burialNorthern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales

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