The AIF Project

Joseph Bede McDONELL

Date of birth29 July 1882
Place of birthCundleton, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationRoman Catholic priest
AddressCundletown, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation34
Next of kinFather, A McDonell, Cundletown, New South Wales
Enlistment date16 December 1916
Rank on enlistmentChaplain (4th Class)
Unit nameChaplains' Corps
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A64 Demosthenes on 22 December 1916
Rank from Nominal RollChaplain
Unit from Nominal RollSea Transports
FateReturned to Australia 13 March 1919
Other details

War service: embarked Sydney, 22 December 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 3 March 1917.

Commenced return to Australia on board HMT 'Beltana', 17 March 1917; struck off the strength of the AIF.

Status of 'for voyage only' converted to 'continuous service', 13 April 1917.

Re-embarked, Capetown', on board 'Euripides', 20 April 1917; dis-embarked, Devonport, England, 21 May 1917.

Attached to 12th Training Bn, Codford, 27 May 1917.

Proceeded overseas to Egypt, 16 July 1917; arrived Alexandria, 4 August 1917; posted for duty to 3rd Light Horse Brigade; taken on strength, 1st Light Horse Training Regiment, Cairo, 18 August 1917.

Attached to 3rd Light Horse Brigade, 30 November 1917. [Record of Service indicates that on 6 September 1918 McDonell was posted to Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England: this cannot be confirmed.

Posted to 1st Light Horse Brigade, 21 September 1918.

Admitted to 14th Army General Hospital, Cairo, with malaria, 28 October 1918; discharged, 4 November 1918. Admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, 5 October 1918 (influenza); granted 14 days' sick leave and allowances, 5 November 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HMT 'Ultimaroa', 13 March 1919.

Re-enlisted for special service in the AIF, 23 May 1919.

Embarked Sydney on board HMAT 'Willochra', 26 May 1919; dis-embarked, London, England, 21 July 1919.

Medal: British War Medal

In World War II he volunteered for duty as an AIF chaplain at Kenmore Orphanage, which had been taken over by the military authorities, but was rejected on account of his age (59).
Miscellaneous detailsAppointment for voyage only.
Date of death3 October 1962
Age at death80
Place of burialSt Patrick's Cemetery, Kenmore, Goulburn, New South Wales

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.