Andrew Patrick Cleary

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 03/12/2015 - 16:25
First Name: 
Andrew
Middle Name: 
Patrick
Last Name: 
Cleary
Date Enlisted: 
Thursday, December 16, 1915
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
1st Battalion
Company: 
C
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Friday, July 21, 1916
Place of Death: 
Pozieres, France
Cause of Death: 
Killed in action
Details: 

Andrew Cleary (Service No 923 & 5064) was born in Bendigo, Victoria around 1895. 

Andrew enlisted on 31st August 1914 (Service No 923), but was discharged soon after when his true age was questioned. 

When Andrew re-enlisted (Service No 5064) on 6 or 16 December 1915 at Kensington, N.S.W., he claimed to be 20 years of age.  At this time he was single, employed as a labourer, and was living at Woonona, N.S.W.

Andrew embarked from Sydney on board SS Makarini with 16th Reinforcements on 1st April 1916.  He arrived in Egypt on 2nd May 1916 and was admitted to hospital sick on 4th May - no reason given on his official papers - and left hospital on 6th May 1916.

He arrived in France on 17th May 1916 and joined 9 Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, on 11th July 1916.  On 21st July 1916 while fighting at Pozierres, Andrew along with other soldiers, were killed by an exploding shell while charging the enemy lines.  He was seen to fall, but the bodies had to be left where they fell.  Consequently, Andrew has no known grave.

He is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneaux, France.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, CLEARY A P

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