Patrick HARRINGTON

HARRINGTON, Patrick

Service Number: 3594
Enlisted: 30 November 1916, Patrick was initially assigned to the 9th Reinforcements for the 1st Pioneer Battalion and joined that Unit at Ypres, Belgium, on 23 October 1917. Patrick was transferred to the 1st Machine Gun Battalion on 9 April 1918 and joined the 21st Australian Machine Gun Company.
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 1st Machine Gun Battalion
Born: County Cork, Ireland, 1880
Home Town: Maclean, Clarence Valley, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Fireman (steamship)
Died: Killed in Action, Merricourt-Sur-Somme, France, 22 August 1918
Cemetery: Heath Cemetery, Picardie
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

30 Nov 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3594, 21st Machine Gun Company , Patrick was initially assigned to the 9th Reinforcements for the 1st Pioneer Battalion and joined that Unit at Ypres, Belgium, on 23 October 1917. Patrick was transferred to the 1st Machine Gun Battalion on 9 April 1918 and joined the 21st Australian Machine Gun Company.
24 Jan 1917: Involvement Private, 3594, 1st Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: ''
24 Jan 1917: Embarked Private, 3594, 1st Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney
22 Aug 1918: Involvement Private, 3594, 1st Machine Gun Battalion , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3594 awm_unit: 1st Australian Machine Gun Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-08-22

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Biography contributed by Greg Towner

From my research:

Patrick was probably born in Ireland as he gave his next of kin as his father, also called Patrick Harrington, of Keeltarsna, County Cork, Ireland.   On enlistment he indicated he had served 12 years with the Royal Navy most probably as a Fireman on steamships.   It was his occupation that probably brought him to the Clarence River either in employment with the North Coast Steam Navigation Companies coastal trading vessels or smaller vessels on the Clarence.   He resided in the Argyle Hotel in Maclean, owned by Mrs Annie Cummins and formed a relationship with the Cummins family.   After enlistment he prepared a Will leaving his estate "to my friend Ellen Cummins".   Ellen was Annie Cummins' daughter.

No. 21 AMG Company moved forward to Merricourt-Sur-Somme on 21 August 1918 and the bivouac area was shelled by the enemy on the 22 August, killing Patrick and two other soldiers.

Patrick's personal effects, medals and a sum of just over 41 pounds was sent to his next of kin, his father in Ireland.   Solicitors in Grafton took action on behalf of Ellen Cummins but there is no evidence that Patrick's estate was ever recovered from Ireland.

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