GANNON, William Patrick

GANNON, William Patrick – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : N/A
RANK : Private
UNIT : 8th Depot Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 6/10/1915
AGE : 18
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Goondiwindi, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Lightning Ridge, New South Wales
RELIGION : Roman Cathlic
OCCUPATION : Farm Labourer
DATE OF DEATH : 2/12/1915
PLACE OF BURIAL : Toowong, Queensland

MEMORIALS : Yelarbon War Memorial, Yelarbon Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

View Veteran’s Service File : GANNON, William Patrick

NOTES : GANNON, William Patrick – By Duncan McLean

One of the many tragedies involving Yelarbon soldiers during the First World War is the story of William Patrick Gannon, who was only eighteen when he died of cerebrospinal meningitis, on 2 December 1915, in Brisbane.

William was born at Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, to Mary Anne and William Gannon. He was living in Yelarbon, working as a farm labourer when he enlisted at Goondiwindi on 5 October, 1915. He was 5 feet, 7 ½ inches (171 cm) tall and weighed 132 lbs. (60 kg), with a dark complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. His religion was listed as Roman Catholic.

He travelled to Brisbane, and was attached to the 8th Depot Battalion when he fell ill. He died at the Brisbane General Hospital, just under two months after enlistment. He is buried in the Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane.

William’s older brother, John Michael Gannon who was with the 7th Depot Battalion, enlisted two weeks after his brother on 20 October 1915 at Toowoomba. John was stationed in Brisbane  at the time of William’s death. In fact, on 1 December, 1915, John was also gravely ill, and by 11 February, 1916, he was still sick and was recommended for discharge. John was eventually deemed permanently medically unfit with tachycardia, and discharged from military service, on 22 February, 1916, at Brisbane. Sadly, neither of the Gannon brother ever left Australian shores, and neither served longer than three months.

Copyright 2026 Deborah C Wheeler and Duncan McLean, Southern Downs Military History

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