AT WAR
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It is inevitable that any family that has a history in Australia will also have soldiers in their family line. During World War I, From a population of less than 5 million, 416,809 men enlisted. Of these over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner. In World War II, nearly 1 million served with some 433,000 overseas. Over 27,000 died. While many relations served in the armed forces, set out below are those more directly in line.
In World War 1, Henry McLeod, John Henry Vigor and Robert Harold Vigor fought in Gallipoli and France or both. William Daley served in both Wars and fought in France in WWI.
In WWW II, Albert Vigor fought with the RAAF in England. Edgar Adams, Donald McNeill, John Albert Vigor and Norman McMahon fought in Papua New Guinea against the Japanese. Don McNeill also fought in the Middle East and Borneo being mentioned in despatches 4 times. Bernard and Vincent McMahon served in Australia.
There were a number of
There were a number of first generation Australian born Kellehers who served in the Great War. Gunner John James Kelleher was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery on the field, 2nd Liet was hit by two grenades in the Darndelles and suffered serious injuries including the loss of his left arm and Thomas William Kelly fought in France.
It is also interesting that many of the soldiers serving for Australia in WWW had possibly more links with England than Australia at that time. While Henry McLeod and Wiliam Daley were born in Australia, Henry and Robert Vigor, who both fought in Gallipoli, not only had many of their relatives in England but had been in Australia for less than a decade. During the time that they were stationed in England they visited their parents in siblings in Sussex. Jack was wounded in Gallipoli but Robert went on to serve in some of the fiercest battle of Pozieres along with Henry McLeod