DEGIDAN, Patrick Alphonsus
| Service Number: | 31524 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 May 1916, Burra, South Australia, Australia |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Yorketown, South Australia, Australia, 5 April 1889 |
| Home Town: | Yorketown, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Public School, Yorketown, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Porter, South Australian Railways |
| Died: | Tuberculosis, Military Hospital, Sutton Veny, England, United Kingdom, 13 January 1918, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Sutton Veny (St. John) Churchyard, Wiltshire, England Grave Reference: 313. D. 3. Cemetery: SUTTON VENY (ST. JOHN) CHURCHYARD , Sutton Veny (St John) Churchyard, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Burra District WW1 Honor Roll, Yorketown War Memorial, Yorketown and District of Melville Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 30 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Burra, South Australia, Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Nov 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Driver, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| 23 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 31524, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 23 Dec 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 31524, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, RMS Orontes, Melbourne |
Help us honour Patrick Alphonsus DEGIDAN's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 13th January.... Driver Patrick Degidan was born at Yorketown, South Australia in 1889. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 30th May, 1916 as a 27 year old, single, Porter with South Australian Railways, from Yorketown, South Australia.
Driver Patrick Degidan & his younger brother Michael John Jerome Degidan, 31523, aged 18, embarked from Melbourne on RMS Orontes on 23rd December, 1916 with 7th Reinforcements, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 17th February, 1917.
Driver Patrick Degidan was posted to Bulford Camp, Wiltshire on 26th March, 1917 then posted to R.B.A.A. (Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery) at Larkhill, Wiltshire on 9th May, 1917.
Driver Patrick Degidan was admitted sick to Fargo Military Hospital, Wiltshire on 30th July, 1917 & discharged on 19th October, 1917.
Driver Patrick Degidan was admitted sick to Bulford Hospital on 1st November, 1917 & then transferred to the Military Hospital at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 2nd November, 1917 seriously ill.
Driver Patrick Degidan died at 9.10 p.m. on 13th January, 1918 at the Military Hospital, Sutton Veny of Tuberculosis Generalized.
[Younger brother - Michael John Jerome Degidan, 31523. Wounded in Action – gassed in France on 24th April, 1918, invalided to England on 30th April, 1918. Gunner Degidan returned to Australia 3rd March, 1919.]
Driver Patrick Degidan was buried on 17th January, 1918 – Plot number 313. D. 3
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/c---e.html
There are 141 WW1 Australian Soldiers buried in the Churchyard at Sutton Veny along with 2 WW1 Australian Nurses.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the links above with burial details)
Biography
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
The Pioneer (Yorketown, SA: 1898 - 1954) Saturday 26 August 1916
Send-Off Gatherings
On Monday morning the Yorketown cheer-up society members assembled at the Post Office to tender a send-off to Private P. Degidan. The mayor (Mr R. T. McFarlane, and the secretary (Mr G. E.) Heaney) spoke parting words. Three cheers were given. Pte. Degidan said that the gathering was unexpected by him and he thanked them for the kind words expressed. If he came back he hoped to meet them all again, if he did not come back they would have the satisfaction of knowing that he had done his little bit in the great struggle.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199100268
The Pioneer (Yorketown, SA: 1898 - 1954) Saturday 2 February 1918
THE LATE SIGNALLER P. A. DEGIDAN.
The late Signaller Degidan, who was 28 years of age, was born at Yorketown. He was educated at the Public School, where he gained high marks. After leaving school he worked at the "Clarion" Office for nine years, being in charge for six years. Whilst he was in Yorketown he was Secretary of the S. Y.P. Jockey Club, and took, an, active interest in the local tennis, cricket, and football clubs, and also the dramatic dub. He was very popular, was one of the best known young men on S.Y.P., and was greatly respected by all. About five years ago he left Yorketown and entered the railway. He was first stationed at Gawler, then at Lyndoch and Mt. Bryan in turn, and enlisted from the latter place in June, 1916. He left for England on December 23rd of that year. After being in training for several months, he was taken ill in July. He was discharged from hospital about October 23rd, but after a short while had a relapse, and died from the effects of his illness on Jan. 9th. — "Clarion."
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199102618
Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1954) Friday 10 January 1919
DEGIDAN.—Of your charity pray for the repose of the soul of Patrick Alphonsus Degidan, who died at Military Hospital, Sutton Veny, England, on 13th January, 1918. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on his soul.—Inserted by his loving parents, sisters, and brother.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167787137
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