Edward McMahon (1888-1960)
Item
Dublin Core
Type
Title
Contributor
Date
Publisher
Format
Language
World War One Veterans Item Type Metadata
Name
Birth Date
Birthplace
Service Number
Enlistment Date
Next of Kin
Father
Address at time of Enlistment
Yarraville.
Occupation
Marital Status
Death Date
Place of Burial
Biographical Text
No.461 Private Edward McMahon*
(or B. McMahan)
Parents: Michael McMahon married Ellen Conway at Sandhurst in 1885 (No.6507/1885). Their children were:
- Thomas Mathew - born 1886 (No.35775X1912/1886)
- Edward - born 1888 at Williamstown (No.25752/1888)
- Mary - born 1890 at Williamstown (No.37597/1890)
- Margaret - born 1894 at Rutherglen (No.32771/1894)
- Michael William - born 1897 at Footscray (No.3363/1897) (known as William)
- Nellie - born 1898 at Footscray (No.11157/1898)
- Annie - born 1905 at Footscray (No.3044/1905)
- Laurence (Laurie) Conway - born 1907 at Footscray (No.26948/1907)
- Thomas Mathew - born 1912 at Williamstown (No.35775/1912)
Edward’s father worked as a quarry man, and the family lived in the western suburbs of Melbourne, while their children grew up.
At the time of his enlistment in 1914, Edward was living with his parents at 49 Powell Street in Yarraville.
Edward had previously worked as an apprentice moulder for five years, with Mr William Barrow at his Spotswood foundry.
The Advertiser (Footscray), 11 May 1918, p.3.
War Service
At the age of 26, Edward McMahon enlisted in the A.I.F. at Melbourne on 21 August 1914. War had been declared just one month earlier, on 28 July 1914.
On 21 August 1914, Edward McMahon had completed his basic training, and he was appointed to “D” Company of the 6th Infantry Battalion.
Private Edward McMahon embarked with the 6th Infantry Battalion “D” Company from Melbourne per HMAT A20 Hororate on 19 October 1914. They sailed to Egypt, where they continued training, prior to embarking for the Gallipoli campaign.
Private McMahon landed on Gallipoli as part of the initial landings on 25 April 1915, with the 6th Infantry Battalion. He was wounded in the foot during the landing, and evacuated to a Hospital Ship, off shore.
On 4 May 1915, he disembarked from the ship Clan McGillivary at Malta, and was admitted to the Valetta Hospital. There he was treated for a gunshot wound to his foot, and was discharged on 10 June 1915. After two weeks he was readmitted to hospital, this time to the St George Hospital in Malta.
Private McMahon embarked from Malta on 17 July 1915 per H.M.T. Dongala, and sailed to England. After arriving, he was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth on 24 July 1915, for further treatment.
His admission to hospital in London was recorded in the 61st Casualties List, published in the The Argus, 7 August 1915, p.15, as
Pte. E. McMahon, 6th Batt., Yarraville.
During his treatment, it was decided that Private McMahon would be repatriated to Australia, and he embarked from Plymouth per Suevic, on 8 October 1915.
After arriving in Melbourne on 19 November 1915, he faced a Medical Board, and their decision was that he be discharged from the A.I.F. He was subsequently discharged through the 3rd Military District, on 16 May 1916.
Post War
At the end of August 1918, there was a medal presentation ceremony held in the Mechanic's Hall at Werribee, where 13 local men were presented with local gold medals. It was reported that former Private McMahon was not able to attend, but it was hoped that he could attend the next ceremony.
Werribee Shire Banner, 5 September 1918, p.3.
Returned soldier Edward McMahon appeared in the Footscray Court, charged with breaking four bottles of beer in a Yarraville Billiard Room on 19 August 1918. In his defence, he claimed to have no memory of the incident. He was a former soldier who had fought on Gallipoli, and had never been in trouble before. After promising to be of good character in the future, the charges against him were dropped.
Independent (Footscray), 31 August, 1918, p.1.
In 1930, Edward McMahon was living at 131 Somerville Road in Yarraville, when he wrote to the Defence Department, seeking a copy of his previous Military Discharge Certificate. He stated that it had been lost in Yarraville, five years earlier.
Edward lived at 131 Somerville Road in Yarraville along with his Mother and sister Mary, until around 1937. His mother Ellen McMahon died in February 1942.
The Age, 28 February 1942, p.11.
From that time, the Electoral Rolls say he was alone in the family home until 1954, when his name last appeared.
Edward McMahon died at Footscray in 1960, aged 71 years.
(Father Michael and Mother Ellen Conway) No.7585/1960.
Digger : Death Index, Victoria 1921-1985.
Edward McMahon was buried in the Williamstown Cemetery on 24 June 1960.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/153572149
Medals and Entitlements:
- 1914/15 Star – No.6235
- British War Medal – No.1817
- Victory Medal – No. 1816
* Name: B. McMahan
1: It is believed that the name on the Honour Board should be E. McMahon. (Edward McMahon)
2: It is believed that there are two typographical errors in the recorded name. The second "a" in the surname should be "o", and that the initial is wrong. It should be "E" and not "B".
Notes
Name on the Werribee Shire Oak Board: McMAHAN, B (this is believed to be an error)
The name "McMahon, B., (Wounded), Werribee", first appeared in the Roll of Honor, Werribee Shire Banner, 22 July 1915, p.3.
This coincides with the wounding on Gallipoli, of Private McMahon E.
WW1 Nominal Roll
Only five soldiers with the name "McMahon, B." are listed. All enlisted too late to be a match to the Werribee Shire Banner’s Roll of Honor entry.
1. No. 31 S/Sgt Beresford McMahon, 4th D.A.C. emb 1/11/1914, RTA 14/12/1918
2. No. 4771A Pte Bryan McMahon, 59th Batt, emb 11/8/1915, RTA 8/4/1917
3. No. 1912 Dvr Bertram Francis McMahon, 6th M.T. Coy, emb 17/9/1914, RTA 8/10/1918
4. 7104 Pte Bert James McMahon, 18th Batt, emb 7/9/1917, RTA 4/12/1918
5. 2357 Sgt Bartholemew Patrick, 6th L.H., emb 23/8/1915, RTA 28/6/1919
Victorian Electoral Rolls
1914 Electoral Roll
49 Powell St Yarraville
Edward McMahon, Iron moulder
Margaret McMahon, H.D. [his sister]
Mary McMahon, Machinist [his sister]
Michael McMahon, Quarryman [his father]
1917 Electoral Roll
49 Powell St Yarraville
Edward McMahon, Iron moulder
Ellen McMahon, H.D. [his mother]
Margaret McMahon, H.D. [his sister]
Mary McMahon, Machinist [his sister]
1919-1931 Electoral Roll
131 Somerville Rd Yarraville
Edward McMahon, Iron moulder
Ellen McMahon, H.D. [his mother]
Mary McMahon, Machinist [his sister]
Michael McMahon, Quarry Man [his father]
1934-1937 Electoral Roll
131 Somerville Rd Yarraville
Edward McMahon, Iron moulder
Ellen McMahon, H.D. [his mother]
Mary McMahon, Machinist [his sister
Father not listed. Michael McMahon died in 1929
Death notice of Michael McMahon
The Age, 15 April 1929, p.1.
1942-1954 Electoral Roll
131 Somerville Rd Yarraville
Edward McMahon, Iron moulder [alone until 1954]
Further Notes
In 1913, Miss Vera McMahon (possibly a relative) wrote and asked the Werribee Shire Council for the use of the Old Shire Hall, on one afternoon and evening, to conduct dance classes.
Werribee Shire Banner, 1 May 1913, p.3.
"While the Kowarra was berthing at No.3 North Wharf, Edward McMahon, aged 50 years, suffered a fractured pelvis and shock."
The Argus, 21 April 1939, p.8.
"When he was crushed between the side of a ship and the wharf at North Wharf yesterday, Edward McMahon, 50 years old, of Somerville Road, Yarraville, received a fractured pelvis and shock. He was admitted to Royal Melbourne Hospital."
The Age, 21 April 1939, p.12
Bibliography
https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/
Unit War Diary
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection
Death
ancestry.com.au
Service Record
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/
Pioneer Index 1837-1888 CD
Federation Index 1889-1901 CD
Edwardian Index 1902-1913 CD
Great War Index 1914-1920 CD
Comments