Samuel David McCONNELL

Regimental number497
Place of birthLondonderry, Ireland
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationFarmer
AddressStrathpine, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Height5' 6.5"
Weight136 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Marion Y McConnell, Strathpine, Queensland
Previous military serviceServed for 3 years in the Citizen Military Forces (8th Infantry Bn).
Enlistment date10 July 1916
Place of enlistmentBrisbane, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit nameMachine Gun Company 7, Reinforcement 7
AWM Embarkation Roll number24/12/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 25 October 1916
Regimental number from Nominal Roll497A
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll1st Machine Gun Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 20 May 1919
Discharge date13 August 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 25 October 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 28 December 1916; marched into Australian Details Base, Perham Downs, 29 December 1916; marched into Machine Gun Training Depot, Grantham, 3 January 1917.

Found guilty, 12 January 1917, of being absent without leave, 12.00 am 9 January, to 8.30 am, 11 January 1917: awarded 7 days' confinement to barracks; forfeited a total of 2 days' pay.

Admitted to Belton Park Hospital, 16 January 1917; discharged to Machine Gun Training Depot, Grantham, 23 January 1917. Proceeded to France through Folkestone, 10 March 1917, and marched into Machine Gun Company Base Depot, Camiers; marched out to field, 24 April 1917, and taken on strength of 3rd Machine Gun Company, 27 April 1917.

Admitted to 6th Australian Field Ambulance, 20 September 1917, and transferred to 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station (gun shot wound, right leg); to Ambulance Train '124', 20 September 1917, and admitted to 16th General Hospital, Le Treport, 21 September 1917; to 3rd Convalescent Depot, Le Treport, 18 October 1917; discharged to Machine Gun Base Depot, Camiers, 23 October 1917. Proceeded to England classified 'PB', 21 November 1917, and marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 22 November 1917; marched into No 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 26 November 1917.

Found guilty at Hurdcott, 5 January 1918, of being absent without leave, 4.00 pm, 28 December 1917, to 2.45 pm, 4 January 1918: awarded 8 days' Field Punishment No 2; forfeited total of 16 days' pay. Found guilty at Hurdcott, 2 February 1918, of (1) neglecting to obey orders (drunkenness), (2) neglecting to obey an order from the Military Police, (3) making a false statement: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2. Found guilty at Hurdcott, 3 April 1918, of failing to report after returning from leave: awarded 4 days' confinement to barracks.

Found guilty at Hurdcott, 2 July 1918, of being absent without leave, 10.00 pm, 26 June, to 10.00 pm, 28 June 1918: awarded 3 days' Field Punishment No 2; forfeited total of 5 days' pay. Marched into Longbridge Overseas Training Brigade, Deverill, 4 July 1918; marched into Machine Gun Training Depot.

Proceeded to France through Folkestone, 4 September 1918; marched into Machine Gun Base Depot, Camiers, 5 September 1918; marched out to field, 8 September 1918; rejoined 1st Machine Gun Battalion, 12 September 1918; appointed Lance Corporal, 1 November 1918; moved out from field, 29 March 1919. Proceeded to England from Australian Infantry Base Depot, Havre, 4 April 1919; disembarked Southampton, 5 April 1919; marched into No 1 Group, 7 April 1919, and marched out to No 2 Group, 7 April 1919.

Commenced return to Australia from Liverpool on board HT 'Nestor', 20 May 1919; disembarked Sydney, 4 July 1919; discharged Brisbane, 13 August 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, McCONNELL Samuel David