Stephen Francis Gleeson

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 12/03/2015 - 13:14

First Name:

Stephen

Middle Name:

Francis

Last Name:

Gleeson

Date of Birth:

Friday, October 29, 1897

Mother's Name:

Belinda Mary Maria (nee McKinley)

Father's Name:

Stephen Gleeson

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, August 11, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

17th Battalion, 37th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Place of Death:

Wollongong, New South Wales

Details:

Private Stephen Gleeson (Service no. 2873) was born in Wollongong. His father was killed in the Mount Kembla mining disaster.

On his enlistment papers he was described as a single 18 year old pastrycook. He embarked on HMAT A14 Euripides with 6th Reinforcements, 17th Battalion on 2nd November, 1915.

In January 1916 his mother received a telegram stating he was seriously ill with Pneumonia. He recovered and joined his unit in France and saw service on the Western Front. On 5th December, 1916 he was admitted to hospital with Trench Feet. Stephen was yet another victim of the terrible winter of 1916-1917 and the appalling condition of the trenches at that time. He recovered and saw out the war without further injury.

He returned to Australia in May 1919 and was discharged medically unfit from the AIF on 25th July, 1919.

In 1924 he married Edith Wright and they lived in Wollongong with their five children until Stephen died in 1969.

Stephen's brother William also served in World War 1.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, GLEESON S F