Robert KERRIGAN
Year of Birth: 1884
Place of Birth: Ballarat East, Victoria
Date of Enlistment: 29 February 1914
Date and Place of Embarkation: 13 February 1915, Brisbane, Queensland
Ship: HMAT Seang Choon A49
Rank: Private
Unit(s): 15th Australian Infantry Battalion
Regimental Number: 1510
Died: 15 February 1917
Robert Kerrigan was born c1884, his death record has no parents listed. He nominated his sister Miss R. H. Kerrigan as next of kin. Another sister Annie V. Kerrigan and a brother Michael made contact with the Australian Imperial Forces. Annie informed the AIF that their sister R. H. Kerrigan had died 10 years previous.
His wife Jane Ellen Masters and his daughter Ruby Grace, born 1903, also contacted the AIF. The marriage to Jane gave his name as Thomas R. Kerrigan.
On his enlistment in Cairns he gave his age as 29 years 5 months, occupation was a Miner and next of kin his sister. His height was 5 feet 4 inches, weight 136 pounds with fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His religion was Roman Catholic.
Robert was lost in the trenches and returned to duty 31 May 1915. Reported missing in Gallipoli 8 August 1915 and reported Prisoner of War in Constantinople. He was captured on the 8 August 1915. Reported as being transferred from Bilemekik 15 February 1917 to Afion Kara Hissar, Asia Minor.
Robert Kerrigan died 15 February 1917, cause of death Paludisin and buried in the cemetery of A’Afion-Kara-Hissar. Memorial record Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Baghdad Iraq.
Online Resources
Photograph of the HMAT Seang Choon A49, Australian War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Kerrigan, Robert, National Archives of Australia
Australian Red Cross Wounded & Missing
National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers
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