Lot 5175

Description

Trio: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 717 Pte P.J.Moran. 20 Bn. A.I.F. All medals impressed. Good very fine.

Bugler Patrick Joseph Moran, clerk, stated age as 18 but this appears to be an overstatement and should be 17 (see extract of his letter below), born at Orange, NSW; Enl.12Mar1915 at Liverpool, Sydney, NSW, with letter of permission from father, enlistment form marked, 'Only fit for Bugler'; Emb.26Jun1915; to Gallipoli 16Aug1915; 09Oct1915 to hospital in Birmingham, England suffering from septic throat; rejoined 20 Bn 24Mar1916; WIA 05May1916 shrapnel wound abdomen and back, Bridoux near Armentiers, France; DOW 06May1916 at No.8 Casualty Clearing Station; buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

In a letter to his father, this young man wrote from hospital in early 1916, 'I'm not 18 till the 24th of this month (February), but for all that I've come this far now, so I may as well go a little further. I don't want to be aided out just because things aren't always honey. I've been drawing the Government money ever since I joined up, and most of the while had a very easy time. What sort of a cur would I be to back out just because we get it a bit rough occasionally? If the military authorities decide through the medium of their doctors that I am to go back to Australia I'm quite willing to go, but as for getting back any other way, by taking unfair advantage or scheming, I'd sooner go back to the regiment and stop an ounce of lead the first minute I was in action again.'

Less than 3 months after writing this letter, the young Bugler Moran was dead, (DOW) in France.

With some research.