Michael Bernard Delahunty

DELAHUNTY, Michael Bernard- – – – SPC 1906

DoB:- – 1891, Murtoa, VIC

Father:– – Roderick Delahunty

Mother:- – Elizabeth, nee Brennan

Michael Delahunty was a boarder from Murtoa, a small town near Horsham, Victoria. His brothers, James (SPC 1905) and John (SPC 1900) were also boarders at St Patrick’s. They all became farmers in the Murtoa area after leaving SPC, and Michael was the only brother who enlisted.

Service No:- 8820

Rank:– – Private, Gunner

Unit:- – 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, later- 4th Light Horse Brigade, later 1st Anzac ArmyCorps Cyclist Battalion

Michael Delahunty enlisted on 19 July 1915. He was a 24 year old farmer, who was very tall at six feet and three quarter inches in height. He had a fairish complexion with blue eyes and mousey coloured hair.

Private Delahunty embarked from Melbourne aboard the Port Macquarie on 16 November 1915. He proceeded to Suez in Egypt in December 1915, and was transferred on 29 February 1916 to the 4th Light Horse Brigade at Zeitoun, Egypt. While in Egypt he contracted mumps and was admitted to the 4th Auxilliary Hospital in Cairo for treatment in mid-March. Upon his discharge, he was transferred to the Cyclist Corps.

By 9 July 1916 Delahunty was in France, where he joined the re-organised 1st Anzac Army Corps Cyclist Battalion. He was wounded in action on 14 August, suffering from a fractured right clavicle, and was admitted to hospital in Boulogne. He was transferred back to England two days later, for further treatment at Graylingwell War Hospital, a former lunatic asylum, in Chichester.

After his recovery from breaking his collarbone, on 28 March 1917, Delahunty was called to answer a charge brought against him by the Anzac Police. His offence was -“ -‘Neglected to obey police orders in that he did ride a service bicycle when not on duty’. For this misdemeanour he was reprimanded.

On 1 April 1917, he was assigned to the Anzac Provost Corps, England.

At the end of the war, Michael Delahunty requested that he be demobilised in England, rather than return to Australia. He was discharged from duty on 10 November 1919 at Birmingham. His address was 179 Lee Bank Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham.

In 1920, Michael married Lily Maria Joan Perris in England. They relocated to Australia where they became farmers at Murtoa for the rest of their lives. They had eight children.

Michael Bernard Delahunty died on 3 July 1974, aged 83. He was buried at the Murtoa Cemetery, Victoria.