Andrew Christopher ‘Chris’ Fogarty

FOGARTY, Andrew Christopher -‘Chris’- – – – SPC 1900-1903

DoB:- – 28 January, 1884, Hotham (North Melbourne) VIC

Father:– – Thomas Fogarty

Mother:- – Cecilia, nee Cullen

Chris Fogarty was one of ten children, six boys and four girls, of the wealthy wine merchant and former Mayor of Hotham, Thomas Fogarty. Chris was a boarder at St Patrick’s from Melbourne. In his Matriculation year, he attained Honours in French, and passed in English, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Drawing, History and Physics. For his creditable results he was awarded a book prize.

He was a Prefect in the Sodality of the Virgin Mary, and was a member of the Senior Debating team. Chris also showed great prowess on the sports field, in football and cricket. In the football team he was considered a -‘tower of strength on the back line’, and was mentioned in the football song; -‘-¦And Fogarty’s tall, he’s six feet tall / A splendid mark is he, / With a kick as true, and lengthy too / As any kick could be -¦’

Chris was the cricket captain in 1902, -‘-¦A good cool-headed captain, clever alike with bat and ball. Can ill afford to be lost -¦’

After leaving St Patrick’s Chris went on to further study at Ormond College, University of Melbourne, where he first studied Engineering and then transferred to Veterinary Science. Four of the six Fogarty brothers played VFL football, Chris being one of them. He played for Essendon and University for a total of 28 games.

Service No:– –

Rank:– – Lieutenant

Unit:– – 24th Battalion

Andrew Christopher Fogarty signed up on 26 February, 1915. He was 30 years of age, of fresh complexion, with hazel eyes and dark brown hair. At the time of his enlistment he was a Grazier and a single man. He applied for a Commission and was made 2nd Lieutenant on 22 April 1915. He was later promoted to Lieutenant on 26 August 1915.

He left Melbourne on the Euripides on 8 May 1915. The day before he embarked for service, he married Mary Agnes O’Connor in Melbourne.- Mary was 27 years old and was born in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick. She must have followed Chris to England, as her address as his next of kin was St George Hanover Square, London.

Lieutenant Fogarty proceeded to Turkey where tragically, he was killed in action on 29 November 1915. He was among 31 dead and 100 wounded by a massive explosion caused by a Turkish shell barrage. His brother Joe, a Medical Officer with the Australian Army Corps, was close at hand and heard the explosion. Joe rushed to the scene and frantically searched for his brother’s body. He found only a left foot and was able to identify it as his brother’s because of a large bunion.

Lieutenant Fogarty was initially buried at Browns Dip South Cemetery, 500 yards south of Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula. However, his remains were exhumed and re-interred in April 1923 at Lone Pine Cemetery, one and a half miles south east of Anzac Cove. His parents installed a stained glass window in his memory at St James Old Cathedral in Melbourne. – –

Chris’ widow Mary gave birth to their daughter, Ann Christine, in February 1916 in London. After the war, Mary and infant Ann returned to Australia in 1921 on the Narkunda. They settled in Sydney where Ann Christine grew up and married John Dudley Nield in 1940. Mary Agnes Fogarty died in 1972.

Chris Fogarty’s great nephew is Jim Fogarty, an award winning landscape designer who is based in East Malvern, Melbourne. He notes that the family do not know what became of Ann Christine, or if she had a family of her own.