Michael Delookery

Michael De Lookery (Service No 59123) was born in Kilkenny, Ireland.

Michael stated that his birth date was 4th January 1880 and that he was 38 when he enlisted. However there is some question as to whether this is true. Documents on the National Archives of Australia website record his sister Mrs M Croft, as saying that he was born in 1869, and Michael arrived in Australia on 13th May 1880 at the age of 11. 

At enlistment Michael was a labourer who  had served 3 years with the Garrison Artillery Militia. 

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A30 Borda with the N S W Rreinforcement 11 on 17th July 1918.

Arriving in England on 26th September 1918 he was posted to 17th Battalion the next day. He remained in England having been diagnosed with chronic rheumatism.

Michael  was returned to Australia in January 1919. He was listed in the NSW Police Gazette as an Army deserter on the 4th March 1919, having been declared absent without leave from the ship the HT Berrima on the 10th February 1919, in Fremantle, Western Australia. 

While in Western Australia he applied for his discharge which was granted, affective 24th February, 1919.

Michael was discharged from the AIF as medically unfit on 24th February 1919.

He had not informed his family that he had disembarked in Perth and they were only advised of this fact after they wrote to the army enquiry about when he might arrive home.

Michaels' service is commemorated on the Woonona Public School Roll of Honor in N.S.W. along with his brother Lawrence.