Edward Denis Doolan

DOOLAN, Edward Denis- – – – SPC 1908

DoB:- – 1893, Armadale, VIC

Father:- – John Francis Doolan

Mother:- – Sara Ann, nee Morey

Denis, as he was known at St Patrick’s, was a boarder from the Melbourne suburb of Malvern. His brother, Francis John (SPC 1908) also signed up for service in WWI (Service No 22231). Denis was a talented cricketer, mentioned in the College Annual of 1908 as -‘a coming champion; a stylish glancer on the leg’.

Service No:– – 951

Rank:- – Private (Bugler)

Unit:- – 5th Battalion

Denis Doolan enlisted on 17 August 1914 in Melbourne. At the time his address was -‘care of the Coffee Palace, Albert Park’.

Denis was a 21 year and nine months old single man when he joined up, whose occupation was salesman. He was five feet six inches tall, of fresh complexion with blue eyes and black hair. He embarked at Melbourne on 21 October 1914 aboard the Orriato, bound for Gallipoli. While on duty in July 1915, he suffered a hernia and was admitted to the Field Ambulance, Anzac Cove.

It was reported by the Medical Board that –

-‘-¦ he was carrying 2 tins of water at Shrapnell Gully and felt something -give-. Let it go for a fortnight then reported to the MO who sent him away to Malta. He subsequently went to No 3 Aux Hosp and got light duties and was transferred to No 4 Aux Hosp Heliopolis, in Oct 1915. Double Inguinal Hernia.’

He was declared medically unfit for further service and on 10 June 1916 returned to Australia on the Itonus.

In 1920, Denis married Madge Garland and for their married lives they lived in the inner south suburbs of Melbourne; Caulfield, Sandringham, Elsternwick, Bentleigh. At the time of his death in 1973, he and Marge lived at 116 Thomas Street, Bentleigh. He died on 30 April 1973 at the Repatriation Hospital, Heidelberg.

Denis’ death certificate is curious in that it states as -‘unknown’ all the details of his marriage, his birth details, and the names of his parents. It is curious because Madge was still alive in 1973 and presumably could have provided those details. Madge died in 1975 and her death certificate has all her details completed. It also showed that Denis and Madge had two children, Terence Edward, born in 1923, and Norrene born in 1936.

Both Denis and Madge left their bodies to the School of Anatomy, University of Melbourne.