CLUNE, Francis
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
| Born: | County Clare, Ireland, 17 March 1869 |
| Home Town: | Marrickville, Marrickville, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Roman Catholic Pries |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Sydney, 18 June 1960, aged 91 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemetery & Crematorium |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Oct 1915: | Involvement Australian Army Chaplains' Department, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Oct 1915: | Embarked Australian Army Chaplains' Department, HMAT Warilda, Sydney |
Military Cross Citation
'On 20th September at BELLEWAARDE RIDGE N.E. of HOOGE Chaplain Captain Francis CLUNE was a the dressing post. The post was being heavily shelled and a number of wounded were accumulating. Under heavy fire Captain CLUNE regardless of persona risk stood by the wounded, giving a hand with the dressing and ministering to their needs in a manner which inspired confidence in all during this trying time. This work was preformed in the open after the CUPOLA Dressing Post had been destroyed and despite the heavy shelling, which continued for over an hour. Father CLUNE has always shown magnificent devotion in action and under fire and notably so near BULLECOURT in May 1917.'
Submitted 31 March 2016 by Faithe Jones
Awarded Military Cross
Chaplain Very Rev. F. Clune, C.P., Awarded Military Cross
The Very Rev. Francis Clune, C P. has been awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous' bravery. He is a brother of the Most Rev.Dr. Clune, Archbishop of Perth. Fr.Clune, who is 48 years of age, joined the A.I.F. on October 1st,1915.
Fr. Clune is a member of the Passionist Order, and belongs to Sydney. He was born in County Clare, Ireland, and came to Australia, after spending a few years in America, when he was 23 years old. He joined the Passionist Order in Australia, completed his novitiate, and studied for the priesthood in the monastery of his Order at Goulburn. For 15 years after his ordination he did missionary work in practically every State of the Commonwealth.Then he settled in Sydney, and for six years, and up till the time he enlisted, he was rector of his Order and priest in charge at St. Brigid's Church, Marrickville. He was the first Catholic chaplain at Liverpool Camp. He was for a time at the Dardanelles, and was the last Catholic padre to leave Gallipoli. He then went to France, and at Christmas time, 1916, he was seriously wounded in the eyes by shrapnel. After- his recovery in a London hospital he returned to .the front. Early, last year he was mentioned in one of Field-Marshal Sir D. Haig's despatches for gallantry.
Advocate Saturday 12 January 1918 page 15
Submitted 31 March 2016 by Faithe Jones
AUSTRALIAN PRIEST TAKES SIX PRUSSIANS PRISONER.
Father F. Clune, brother of the Most Rev. Patrick Clune, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth, ah old, white-bearded padre, with a New South Wales battalion, has become famous for. haunting the front trenches. despite orders to the contrary, on the pretence of carrying important letters and under other subterfuges. Recently he took prisoner and brought in six giant Prussian Guardsmen, amid cheering from the Australians.
(The Rev. F. Clune was appointed a Roman Catholic chaplain in the Australian Imperial Force on October 1,19I5)
Kyneton Guardian Tuesday 01 May 1917 page 3
Submitted 31 March 2016 by Faithe Jones
Biography contributed by Kathleen Bambridge
Padre Clune was a passionate priest who served in many different theatres on the front lines, earning the repect of all other diggers. He was awarded the MC for bringing wounded under fire at Flers in 1916. shortly after this he lost the sight in one eye. He also recieved the Leo Cross from the Vatican for services to mankind. Captian Frank McNeill records that on one occassion when the battalion was going up the line Pardre Clune was observed carring two buckets. Someone congraduated him on the foresight, and said that he would "bring along some coffee too". " This is not coffee'" Father Clune roared "I've got bombs. We'er going up to kill the ... not drown them. he had a realistic approach to the cause for which the Allies were fighting, and he was always equipped with charity in his heart, chocolate in one pocket and bombs in the other. At 90 he travelled to adelaide to visst Eric Snow a Life Member of Glen Osmond Sub Branch.
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
AUSTRALIAN PRIEST TAKES SIX PRUSSIANS PRISONER.
Father F. Clune, brother of the Most Rev. Patrick Clune, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth, ah old, white-bearded padre, with a New South Wales battalion, has become famous for haunting the front trenches. despite orders to the contrary, on the pretence of carrying important letters and under other subterfuges. Recently he took prisoner and brought in six giant Prussian Guardsmen, amid cheering from the Australians.
(The Rev. F. Clune was appointed a Roman Catholic chaplain in the Australian Imperial Force on October 1,19I5)
Kyneton Guardian Tuesday 01 May 1917 page 3
Awarded Military Cross
'On 20th September at BELLEWAARDE RIDGE N.E. of HOOGE Chaplain Captain Francis CLUNE was a the dressing post. The post was being heavily shelled and a number of wounded were accumulating. Under heavy fire Captain CLUNE regardless of persona risk stood by the wounded, giving a hand with the dressing and ministering to their needs in a manner which inspired confidence in all during this trying time. This work was preformed in the open after the CUPOLA Dressing Post had been destroyed and despite the heavy shelling, which continued for over an hour. Father CLUNE has always shown magnificent devotion in action and under fire and notably so near BULLECOURT in May 1917.'
Chaplain Very Rev. F. Clune, C.P., Awarded Military Cross
The Very Rev. Francis Clune, C P. has been awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous' bravery. He is a brother of the Most Rev.Dr. Clune, Archbishop of Perth. Fr.Clune, who is 48 years of age, joined the A.I.F. on October 1st,1915.
Fr.' Clune is a member of the Passionist Order, and belongs to Sydney. He was born in County Clare, Ireland, and came to Australia, after spending a few years in America, when he was 23 years old. He joined the Passionist Order in Australia, completed his novitiate, and studied for the priesthood in the monastery of his Order at Goulburn. For 15 years after his ordination he did missionary work in practically every State of the Commonwealth.Then he settled in Sydney, and for six years, and up till the time he enlisted, he was rector of his Order and priest in charge at St. Brigid's Church, Marrickville. He was the first Catholic chaplain at Liverpool Camp. He was for a time at the Dardanelles, and was the last Catholic padre to leave Gallipoli. He then went to France, and at Christmas time, 1916, he was seriously wounded in the eyes by shrapnel. After- his recovery in a London hospital he returned to the front. Early, last year he was mentioned in one of Field-Marshal Sir D. Haig's despatches for gallantry.
Advocate Saturday 12 January 1918 page 15
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