Henry Martin (Mart) COMERFORD

COMERFORD, Henry Martin

Service Number: 29927
Enlisted: 11 March 1916, Adelaide, South Australia
Last Rank: Driver
Last Unit: 5th Field Artillery Brigade
Born: Mintaro, South Australia, 14 July 1889
Home Town: Bute, Barunga West, South Australia
Schooling: Mintaro Public School
Occupation: Blacksmith
Died: Died of wounds, Belgium, 7 November 1917, aged 28 years
Cemetery: Menin Road South Military Cemetery
Grave: III. M. 5 ,
Memorials: Adelaide National War Memorial, Alford District of Ninnes Honour Board, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bute District Council WW1 Roll of Honor, Mintaro Roll of Honour WW1, Mintaro and District War Memorial
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World War 1 Service

11 Mar 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 29927, Adelaide, South Australia
3 Oct 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 29927, Australian Field Artillery - 116th to 120th Howitzer Batteries: AIF, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: ''
3 Oct 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 29927, Australian Field Artillery - 116th to 120th Howitzer Batteries: AIF, HMAT Aeneas, Melbourne
7 Nov 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 29927, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , 2nd Passchendaele , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 29927 awm_unit: 5th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Driver awm_died_date: 1917-11-07

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Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon

"COMERFORD.- Died of wounds on the 7th November, Driver H. M. (Mart) Comerford, the dearly loved youngest son of John Comerford, of Mintaro, aged 28. R.I.P.-Inserted by his loving sister and brothers."from the Adelaide Advertiser 01 Dec 1917 (nla.gov.au) 

A rededication service was held at CWGC Menin Road South Military Cemetery in Ieper, Belgium, at 2pm on Saturday 21 April for Driver Henry Martin Comerford, of 5th Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Imperial Force. In early November 1917, the 5th Field Artillery Brigade were based near Westhoek Ridge in Belgium supporting the attacks on Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele. At some time during this period, Driver Comerford was badly wounded and died of his wounds on 7 November 1917. For reasons unknown, Driver Comerford was buried as an Unknown Soldier of the Australian Field Artillery.

In 2015 researchers from the Fallen Diggers organisation pieced together evidence from a variety of sources to confirm that the two unknown soldiers graves in Menin Road South Military Cemetery were in fact the graves of Private Burns and Driver Comerford.

The service was organised by the Australian Defence Force. In attendance were 15 members of the ADF as well as local dignitaries and volunteers.

He was 28 and the son of John Comerford, of Mintaro, South Australia, and the late Ellen Comerford.

INSCRIPTION: I ONCE WAS LOST BUT NOW AM FOUND

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