Mooney, Russell Patrick

22416 Driver Russell Patrick Mooney - 3rd Division Ammunition Column

Russell Patrick Mooney was born in Wollongong New South Wales in 1889 to Thomas and Charlotte Mooney. He was the youngest of several siblings, with Thomas (1865), James (1869), Frank (1871), Percival (1876), Walter (1878), Florence (1880), Maud (1882), Frederick (1883) and Alma (1885).

After Russell's birth, the family moved to Western Australia and took up residence in the Goldfields. His father died in Boulder in 1906 but it appears that Russell moved to Fremantle with another brother called Percival and his mother Charlotte.

Russell had done a hairdresser apprenticeship for six months but instead found work as a milkman and was living at 13 Barnett Street Fremantle.

In 1915 he went to Kalgoorlie for work and enlisted there on the 15th December 1915. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 11 inches tall;

Weight - 159lbs;

Chest Measurement - 34-37 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Sandy.

After his successful enlistment Russell was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp, arriving on the 3rd January 1916, where he was assigned to No.40 Training Depot. Russell was taken through the basics of infantry work at this depot, however on the 24th January 1916 he was assigned to the Artillery reinforcements.

These artillery reinforcements were then sent to Victoria to complete their training. After a few months of training in Victoria, Russell was attached to the newly forming 3rd Division Artillery. He was attached to the 23rd Howitzer Brigade.

This group departed from Port Melbourne on the 20th May 1916 aboard the transport ship HMAT Medic. It appears that when the ship stopped over in South Africa, Russell overstayed his leave in Cape Town and failed to re-embark on the ship. However it appears that Russell did manage to get to England as it is noted that he arrived on the 18th July 1916.

He was then sent to the 3rd Division training camp on the Sailsbury Plains. In August 1916 he was transferred for duty to the 3rd Australian Division Ammunition Column. He trained with this group in England for the next few months.

On the 24th November 1916 the 3rd Australian Division Ammunition Column departed England and headed to France. They would initially be sent to the Armentieres sector in Northern France but by early 1917 would also be covering areas in southern Belgium near Ploegsteert Wood.

Russell's job was to keep the artillery batteries and front line units supplied with ammunition and supplies. This was often done under German shellfire, as the Germans knew all the transport and communication routes.

On the 6th February 1917 Russell was sent to hospital sick with pleurisy but was only away from his unit for six days.

Russell subsequently served through the battle of Messines in June 1917 and was at this front for the next two months, before being transferred to the Ypres front in September 1917. From September to November 1917 the 3rd Division artillery and infantry would be in action at Ypres. Russell and his unit were under heavy German fire for much of their time at Ypres.

So far Russell had survived without being wounded, but on the 16th November 1917 he was evacuated to hospital with a chronic bunion. He was evacuated to the 14th Stationary Hospital at Wimireux but on the 26th November 1917 was transferred to England where he was admitted to a war hospital in Colchester.

It must have been serious health issue as Russell was in this hospital for the next few months. On the 20th February 1918 he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital. A week later he was transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.

It appears the issue with his feet was serious and Russell was not able to return to the Western Front and was recommended for return to Australia. He would remain at Weymouth till he was assigned a troopship home.

On the 17th June 1918 Russell boarded the transport sip Matatua and set sail for home, disembarking in Fremantle on the 8th August 1918.

After disembarking Russell was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical check up.

Russell was then discharged from the AIF on the 4th September 1918. After his arrival home Russell had found his mother had moved from Barnett Street to live in Coolgardie. He instead took up residence with his brother at 64 Ellen Street Fremantle and began working as a hairdresser. In 1925 he'd moved to Pakenham Street Fremantle.

Sadly Russell didn't get long to enjoy the peace he'd fought for, dying in Fremantle on the 24th March 1927 aged 38. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Roman Catholic Mon CC 0450.

An inquest was held into his death, with the West Australian newspaper, publishing the following article;

DEATH OF PATRICK MOONEY.

Unknown Cyclist.

In the Fremantle Courthouse yesterday an inquest was held into the circumstances surrounding the death on March 24 of Russell Patrick Mooney. The deceased was struck by a motor cycle in Adelaide-street and sustained a fractured leg. He was conveyed to the Fremantle Hospital and died later. The Bench was occupied by the Acting-Coroner (Mr. C. M. Purdie) and Detective Sergeant O'Brien examined the witnesses.

Timothy John Mahoney stated that on the evening of March 18 he was driving along Adelaide-street towards Fremantle. When opposite McCulloch and Neil's motor garage he saw a man step off the footpath, and pause. Witness blew his horn and the man became confused. He ran forward and back and was struck by a motor cycle and sidecar coming from Fremantle. The cyclist did not stop but speeded up and went straight on. Witness followed him for some distance but was forced to give up the pursuit as he lost the lights of the cycle in the traffic. He
thought that the machine was a Harley Davidson. He returned to the scene of the accident and rang for the ambulance. Dr. A. McDonald. Senior Resident Medical Officer at the Fremantle Hospital stated that the deceased was admitted to the hospital suffering from a fractured
leg. He appeared to be a man addicted to drink. He had an attack of delirium tremens and tried to leave his bed on one occasion. His condition became worse on March 24 and he died from heart failure
on the same day.
Detective Sergeant Porter said that he had made every effort to discover who drove the cycle but had been unsuccessful. The Acting -Coroner found that the deceased died from heart failure caused by
his being struck by a motor cycle driven by a person unknown.
 
The Daily news also reported on the above but printed further information;
 
William Neil said he was working at the garage opposite the scene of the accident, and, he saw Mahoney turn his machine round quickly and make off in the opposite direction to which he had been travelling.
William Pearse said that he saw the deceased at the Workers' Club on the night of the accident. Deceased was then perfectly sober.
Detective-Sergeant Porter said that when he interviewed deceased at the Fremantle Hospital on March 19, Mooney was unable to give any information that would assist in tracing the driver of the motor cycle which knocked him down. Witness had since made exhaustive inquiries but had not succeeded in locating the driver of the cycle.
After evidence of identification by deceased's brother, a verdict was returned that death was due to heart failure through being run down by a motor cycle the driver of which was unknown.