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"Ambrose Augustine Haley was born to Thomas Haley and Mary Ann Haley (née Fox) on 7th December 1892 in Portland, Tasmania. Thomas worked as a clerk, and not long after Ambrose’s birth the family moved along the coast to St. Helens. There Thomas ended up working for J.C. Mac Michael & Co. General Merchants and Importers, who had branches in both St. Helens and Lottah. As Ambrose grew to adulthood he embarked on a career as an accountant, but also found time for more martial pursuits, spending a year in the cadets.

Ambrose was not among the first rush of volunteers for service in the army; indeed he was not the first of his family to join the colours. His younger brother Jack enlisted in the recently formed 40th Battalion at Claremont, Tasmania on 8th March 1916. The 21-year-old shop assistant must have looked forward to heading to the seat of action, but he was to be disappointed. After just over a month Jack was discharged as medically unfit. The reason was the impaired vision he suffered in his left eye, the result of an accident with a whip when he was a child. Ambrose decided to take the plunge only a few months after his brother. On 7th November 1916, at the age of 23 years 11 months, the young accountant entered a Claremont recruiting office; when he emerged he was a gunner in the Australian army. The following year a third brother, Urban, would make the same journey. He enlisted on 23rd March 1917 at the age of 20– as he was under 21 his parents had to sign a permission slip for him to be deployed overseas. Thomas and Mary Ann consented, but his father stipulated that the consent was predicated on the fact that ‘he goes in a clerical position as promised by the Minister of Defence in the case of Military Staff Clerks.’ By this point in the war, everyone was aware of the risks..." - READ MORE LINK (midletonheritage.com)

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Ambrose Augustin Haley was born at St. Helen’s, Tasmania on 7th December, 1892 to parents Thomas and Mary Ann Haley (nee Fox).

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 7th November, 1916 as a 24 year old, single, Accountant from St. Helens, Tasmania.

Gunner Ambrose Augustine Haley, Service number 34423, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 11th May, 1917 with the Field Artillery Brigade, March, 1917 Reinforcements. He was hospitalised while at Sea from 29th June, 1917 until 30th June, 1917 & disembarked at Devonport, England on 20th July, 1917.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.

He was marched in to R.B.A.A. (Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery) at Larkhill, Wiltshire on 21st July, 1917.

On 18th September, 1917 Gunner Haley proceeded overseas to France via Southampton from R.B.A.A. at Larkhill. He was marched in to A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Rouelles, France on 19th September, 1917 & was marched out to 1st Divisional Artillery on 21st September, 1917 Gunner Haley was taken on strength of 1st D.A.C. (ex 12/15th F.A.B.) from A.G.B.D. on 24th September, 1917. He was transferred to 2nd F.A.B. (Field Artillery Brigade) from 1st D.A.C. on 5th October, 1917 & taken on strength of 2nd F.A.B. in Belgium on 5th October, 1917.

Gunner Ambrose Augustine Haley was wounded in action in France on 11th October, 1917. He was admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance on 11th October, 1917 with gunshot wounds to left arm then transferred to 17th Casualty Clearing Station. Gunner Haley was then transferred & admitted to 7th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples, France on 12th October, 1917. He was reported still on Hospital in 15th December, 1917. Gunner Haley was reported still in Hospital on 1st February, 1918. He was discharged to No. 6 Convalescent Depot at Etaples on 23rd February, 1918 with shrapnel wounds to left arm. Gunner Haley was transferred to 5th Convalescent Depot at Cayeux on 26th February, 1918. Due to a query – it was reported that Gunner Haley was still a patient at 5th Convalescent Depot on 1st May, 1918. Gunner Haley was transferred to 17th Convalescent Depot on 5th May, 1918. Gunner Ambrose Augustine Haley was discharged to Base Depot from Hospital on 8th June, 1918 & was marched in to A.G.B.D. on 9th June, 1918. He was marched out from to A.G.B.D. on 25th August, 1918 & rejoined his Unit in France on 31st August, 1918.

On 27th September, 1918 Gunner Haley reported & was admitted to 20th Australian Casualty Clearing Station with deafness. He was transferred & admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen, France on 29th September, 1918 & invalided to England on 3rd October, 1918 on Hospital Ship Essequibo.

He was admitted to Graylingwell War Hospital, Chichester, Sussex, England on 4th October, 1918 with slight deafness.

Gunner Ambrose Augustine Haley died at 9.50 am on 25th December, 1918 at Graylingwell War Hospital, Chichester, Sussex, England from Carcinoma of Pancreas, Lungs, Spleen & other organs.

He was buried in The Rosary Catholic Churchyard, Midleton, County Cork, Republic of Ireland (South-west plot, West side main path) & has a private headstone he shares. His death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/midleton.html