Patrick Wilson aka Patrick Reidy

Patrick Wilson (Service No 2974) was born Patrick Reidy in Bungaree, Victoria.

Patrick initially enlisted in March 1915 under his birth name, Reidy.  He was a single, 31 years old, and worked as a labourer.  In April that year he was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit. 

Keen to serve, Patrick attempted to re-enlist in July 1915 at Liverpool, again in November 1915 at Cootamundra, N.S.W.  While he was accepted at Cootamundra, he was dischared a week later, on 8 December 'unlikely to become an efficient soldier'. 

In September 1916, using the surname Wilson, Patrick enlisted in Dubbo & finally at Moore Park, Sydney in September 1916 under the name Patrick Wilson.  This enlistment was successful and Patrick embarked from Sydney on HMAT A19 Afric with 58th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement on 3rd November 1916.

He arrived in England on 9th January 1917 and joined A Company, 58th Battalion in France on 26th March 1917.  Patrick was wounded in action on 12th May 1917 at Bullecourt and evacuated to hospital for treatment of severe gun shot wounds to his righ leg and left shoulder.  His serious wounds kept him in England and in late January 1918 he was admitted to hospital ill.  Patrick then developed pneumonia and died as a result.

Patrick is buried in St Edith Churchyard, Wiltshire, England.

On his numerous enlistments he named different people as next of kin: a brother Thomas; a sister who was engaged to a man named Hayes; a friend in Sydney.  This caused much distress to his sister, Annie, who had to prove who she was to receive his medals and property after his death.  A number of letters are in Patrick's National Archives of Australia file which explain why Patrick used the names Hayes & Reidy (pages 64-66).  Annie was finally accepted as Patrick's legal sister and received his medals and property.