Casey, Patrick
PLACE OF BIRTH
Townsville
OCCUPATION
Labourer
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT
Townsville
DATE OF ENLISTMENT
11/12/1915
NEXT OF KIN
Mrs Alice Casey (mother), Brisbane
LINK TO DOUGLAS SHIRE
Patrick Casey had lived with the Harrison family, Killaloe, before enlisting
REGIMENT 1
47th Battalion AIF
RANK
Private
CAMPAIGN 1
Western Front
KILLED IN ACTION
Yes 18-09-18
OTHER INFO
Embarked from Sydney on Hawkes Bay April 1916. In April 1918 transferred from the 47th Battalion to the 25th.
Awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
STORY-OUTLINE
Patrick Casey presents a complex story of relationships at home and service overseas. At home listed as born Townsville and enlisted Townsville, with mother in Brisbane listed as next of kin. She died and so elder brother John Casey of Innisfail became next of kin (father had died). So where is Douglas Shire in that? This is revealed in a letter from Mrs Thomas Harrison of Killaloe to the army seeking information about Private Casey's death and the whereabouts of his mother: "Private Casey was brought up with my boys and he also left some of his things here I wish to get to his mother". (See also the story of Mrs Harrison's son, William, killed in action 31 August 1918). Private Casey's service record of his time on the Western Front has many entries, principally about hospital visits (mainly bronchitis and trench feet) but also at least three instances of AWL and subsequent trials and reprisals. Although his time at the Front was seriously interrupted by these incidents, Patrick Casey paid the ultimate sacrifice, killed in action on 18 September 1918. He was buried at the Bullecourt British Cemetery near St Quentin.
SERVICE NO
1644
