"Pat" / "Paddy" Patrick MCELWEE
Born 8 January 1879 in Letterbrick, Donegal, Ireland [33]
Son of Patrick MCELWEE and Anne MCGLIN [P313]
He was registered at birth under the surname of MCGILWAY, however on later occasions his surname was spelt MCELWEE [P313]
Accompanied his sister Mrs Grace SIMPSON and her two children from Ireland to Western Australia in about 1911 [P313]
His brother-in-law Paul SIMPSON was already in Western Australia and working for the Midland Railway Company at Irwin [19] [P313]
After arrival he appears to have, like his brother-in-law, secured work with the Midland Railway Company as a Fettler [19]
Railway Fettler in Winchester 1911-1914, and a Labourer at the Railway Siding in Irwin in 1915 [19] [30]
Passed as medically fit for enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force in Perth on 6 September 1915 [30]
Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 13 September 1915 at the military camp at Blackboy Hill [30: item 1942838]
Gave his sister Mrs Grace SIMPSON as his next of kin, her address at the time being "Irwin Siding, Midland Railway, WA" [30]
Upon enlistment he was 5 feet 6½ inches tall, weighed 132 pounds, and had grey eyes, dark hair and a sallow complexion [30]
After training at Blackboy Hill was appointed a Sapper in the 12th Reinforcements of the 3rd Miners Corps [30]
Embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia for active service abroad on the H.M.A.T. Ulysses on 20 February 1916 [30]
Trained in England and then proceeded to France when on 18 December 1916 he was transferred to the 3rd Tunnelling Coy. [30]
Sapper 1233 in the Australian Imperial Force's 3rd Tunnelling Company in France during the First World War [30]
Embarked from Devonport, England on the Sardinia on 19 April 1919 and disembarked in Fremantle, Western Australia [30]
Discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 12 July 1919; received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal [30]
Railway Fettler in Coomberdale 1924-1929 [6] [19]
Railway Fettler in Irwin 1930-1932 [19]
Railway Fettler in Winchester 1932-1942 [6] [19]
Sent a floral tribute for the grave of James SIMPSON who was buried at the Winchester Cemetery on 11 July 1935 [5: 12-Jul-1935]
His arm went septic from a jarrah splinter and was operated on at the Carnamah Private Hospital on 10 December 1935 [5: 13-Dec-1935]
Resided in retirement in Dongara 1947-1949 [19]
Died 23 April 1955; buried at the Utakarra Cemetery in Geraldton, Western Australia [26]
His sister Grace SIMPSON died aged 84 years on 24 January 1966 and was buried in the same plot at the Utakarra Cemetery [P313]
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Patrick McElwee' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 20 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/patrick-mcelwee [reference list] |
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