The AIF Project

Richard Henry COLGAN

Regimental number1086
Place of birthNewry, Co Down, Ireland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressRoseville, Newstead, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Height5' 3.5"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Mary Anne Jones, Roseville, Newstead, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date16 December 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name35th Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/52/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A24 Benalla on 1 May 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll53rd Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 26 September 1917
Discharge date18 March 1918
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 1 May 1916; found guilty at sea, 25 May 1916, of drunkenness: fined 10/-; disembarked Plymouth, England, 9 July 1916. Found guilty of being absent without leave, 25-26 July 1916: awarded 14 days confined to barracks; forfeited 2 days' pay. Found guilty, 1 August 1916, of being drunk in lines in 3A Camp and wilfully damaging property by breaking two panels in door of Detention Room: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2 and to pay 6/- for damage done.

Proceeded overseas to France, 30 September 1916; taken on strength, 53rd Bn, 13 October 1916.

Wounded in action, 31 January 1917, and admitted to 4th Australian Field Ambulance (gun shot wound, left leg, right foot); transferred to 1st South Midland Division Casualty Clearing Station, 1 February 1917; by 15th Ambulance Train, 2 February, to 11th Stationary Hospital, Rouen, 3 February 1917; to England, 24 February 1917, and admitted to Woking Military Hospital, 26 February 1917 (gun shot wounds, severe); to No 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 10 August 1917; discharged on furlough, 20 August 1917, to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 3 September 1917.

Commenced return to Australia on board 'Borda', 26 September 1917; disembarked Melbourne, 21 November 1917; discharged, 18 March 1918.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Medals notation on file marked 'Returned unclaimed', 13 May 1924.
Date of death3 December 1975
SourcesNAA: B2455, COLGAN Richard Henry

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