The AIF Project

Peter CAHILL

Regimental number1230
Place of birthGippsland, Victoria
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationTimber worker
Addressc/o Bunning Bros, Buckingham via Collie, Western Australia
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation31
Height5' 8"
Weight165 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs A Cahill, Royal Street, East Perth, Western Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date20 July 1915
Place of enlistmentBlackboy Hill, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 5 March 1919
Discharge date13 June 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 18 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915.

Found guilty, Tel el Kebir, 17 March 1916, of being absent from 1500 parade: awarded 24 hours' confined to camp, and forfeited 1 day's pay.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 23 June 1916.

Reported Missing in Action, Fleurbaix, 20 July 1916.

Subsequently reported wounded (gun shot wound, right thigh) and taken prisoner.

Repatriated; arrived in England, 3 December 1918.

Statement by Cahill, Ripon, Yorkshire, 16 December 1918: 'My Battalion took part in the attack launched against the German positions near Fleurbaix on the evening of 19.7.16. We reached our objectives and spent the night digging in and consolidating a position in what appeared to have been a drain some distance beyond the enemy second line. Early next morning we found that the Germans had somehow during the night regained possession of their front line.They came along communication saps and bombed us out of the trenches. Four of us were captured together - two of us were wounded. That night I saw Capt. White and Lieut. Mills, of the 32nd Bn. Both were up at the front. Lieut Mills was wounded in the right hand. I spent the night at a Dressing Station some seven kilometres behind the enemy line. Next day I was taken to Douai where I was in Hospital for 14 days. I was next moved into Germany, being first at Dulman and then at Minden. From Dulman I was sent out "on command" to Celde, where we were laying the foundation for a line of light railway. There were about 18 Australians in this commando of about 25. I was also "in commando" at a cement fabrick at Glenerick. I was here when the Armistice was sugned, 11.11.18. We were all mustered at Munster 1. and sent into Holland by train[.] I crossed from Rotterdam to Hull by the "Willochra" on 3.12.18. [W]hile I was in Douai hospital Pte. Dan McKinnon of "D" Coy, 32nd Bn, died of wounds.'

Found guilty, London, 9 January 1919, of being absent without leave, 10 am, 7 January, to 10 am., 9 January 1919: admonished, and forfeited 2 days' pay.

Marched in to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 10 January 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Nevasa', 5 March 1919; disembarked Fremantle, 13 April 1919; discharged, Perth, 13 June 1919.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Death attributed to war service.
Date of death12 May 1937
Place of burialKarrakatta Cemetery
SourcesNAA: B2455, CAHILL Peter

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