Private William Doolan
49th Battalion, AIF
Service Number: 3738
Born: 1885, Sydney, NSW
Died: 13 August 1916, Pozieres, France
William Doolan (known as Billy) was born in 1885 in Sydney to John and Emily Doolan. By the 1890s the family were living at St Marys and their father was working for Andrew Thompson on his Lenore farm at Erskine Park. The family lived in John Street, St Marys and were active community members. At the time of his enlistment, Doolan was a labourer living at Bangalow, near Lismore.
He enlisted in Lismore on 21 September 1915 and embarked from Brisbane on the HMAT Itonus on 30 December 1915 with the 12th Reinforcements of the 9th Battalion. He was transferred to the 49th Battalion on 29 February 1916 and disembarked with his battalion at Marseilles in June.
Doolan was killed in action during the Battle of Mouquet Farm on 13 August 1916. He has no known grave. His Nepean Times obituary in September 1916 stated ‘He rests with the Immortal Dead whose sacrificial patriotism will be the cherished heritage of tradition of the peace enfranchised Australia of the future ages’.
Doolan’s father John died in November 1922 and his mother Emily in December 1944. They are buried with their daughter Ivy in St Marys General Cemetery.
Memorial Details:
- Honor Roll, Villers-Bretonneux, France
- Honor Roll, Victoria Park, St Marys
Sources: