The AIF Project

Maurice CORIGLIANO

Regimental number2011
Place of birthBeachport, South Australia
SchoolBeachport Public School, South Australia
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationBoatman
AddressBeachport, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation31
Height5' 6.5"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinFather, Charles Corigliano, Beachport, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date1 September 1915
Place of enlistmentAdelaide, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A28 Miltiades on 7 February 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Age at death33
Place of burialFromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot II, Row F, Grave No 14), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
120
Family/military connectionsBrother: 6221 Gunner Peter CORIGLIANO, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 12 April 1919; Brother-in-law: 2026 Pte Arthur HATELEY, 9th Light Horse Regiment, died of sickeness at sea, returning to Australia, 11 April 1916.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 7 February 1916; disembarked Suez, 11 March 1916.

Proceeded to join 32nd Bn, Zeitoun, 1 April 1916; taken on strength of 32nd Bn, Duntroon Plateau, April 1916.

Admitted to No 8 Field Ambulance, Duntroon Plateau, then No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Outpost Road Head, 5 April 1916 (varicocele); to No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, 6 April 1916 (not yet diagnosed); discharged to duty, 8 April 1916; rejoined unit, Duntroon Plateau, 11 April 1916.

Found guilty, Ferry Post, 22 April 1916, of neglect of duty as a Military Policeman; awarded 7 days' confined to barracks.

Admitted to No 15 Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 2 May 1916 (influenza); discharged to duty, 8 May 1916; rejoined unit, 9 May 1916.

Found guilty, 23 May 1916, of failing to appear on Commanding Officer's parade at 1945 hours; awarded 2 days' Field Punishment No 2 and forfeits 3 days' pay.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Found guilty, 8 July 1916, of disobedience of orders; awarded 1 day's Field Punishment No 2.

Posted missing, 20 July 1916.

'Prisoner of War German list dated 4/11/16 recvd by Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau, Australian Branch, British Red Cross Society', 24 November 1916, show that 'identification marks found on the Prisoner of War are inspected by the General War Bureau and shown in the lists as under:- DEAD'

'Identification disc received from Germany', 13 March 1917, 'no particulars afforded except that soldier is deceased. To be reported KILLED IN ACTION, 20/7/16' on the authority of Assistant Adjutant General, ANZAC Section, War Office.

Translation of German report, 25 October 1919, 'Iden: Disc handed over by Intell: Off: with 6th Army H.Q. 12/10/16[.] Australian Soldier M. Corigliano, Iden: Disc 2011, 32nd Btn. fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles on 19/7/18 (?16?)[sic]'.

Advice from the Red Cross, 18 October 1920, 'Corigliano, M. 2011. 32 B. Fell 19.7.16 near Fromelles[.] Final German Death List ? Off. M.'

Red Cross File No 801109 has statement from 1339 Pte K. PATTERSON, 32nd Bn (patient, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 16 September 1916: 'Witness states that he saw Corigliano lying right out in part of Fleurbaix badly wounded in the side. Was conscious but could not move. The Battalion retired from that position to original trenches and then this ground was reoccupied by the Germans.'

Second statement from 2099 Pte W.W. POWNSETT, 32nd Bn (patient, Northants War Hospital, Duston, England), 27 September 1916: 'On July 20th 1916 at Fleurbaix, he saw Pte Corigliano reach the 3rd line of the German trenches. He was then very severely wounded and evidently had internal haemorrage. He was lying in a creek. We had to retire and he had to be left behind.' (Interviewer's note: 'Informant: is intelligent.')

'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.'

'Disc received from Germany and forwarded to next of kin, 20.6.17.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 5), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.
SourcesNAA: B2455, CORIGLIANO Maurice
Red Cross file 801109

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