1015 Corporal Michael Joseph Nolan
9th Light Horse Regiment,
3rd Brigade,
2nd Cavalry Division
& AIF Canteens Organisation
1st Australian Imperial Force 1914-1919
This file last updated 2 September, 2023 1:26->
Introduction
Image if available
The following information and chronological table are a summary of the entries from the World War One service record of Michael Joseph Nolan.
Prepared for Robert 'Bob' Nolan by Clive Mitchell-Taylor - 28 Jul 2018.
Michael Joseph Nolan enlisted early in 1915 and was allocated to the Light Horse, serving on Gallipoli where he was evacuated suffering enteritis and diarrhea. He returned to Gallipoli and his unit was withdrawn on 20 Dec 1915. Shortly afterwards he was again hospitalised, this time with a severe hernia, from which he never fully recovered, together with intermittent bouts of malaria.
Medically downgraded due to his service, he was transferred to the AIF Canteens unit and was later promoted to Corporal. He saw out the war in this role and returned to Australia in 1920.
Original Records
View Michael Joseph Nolan's Service record Part 1, Service record part 2, Embarkation Roll entry and World War 1 Nominal Roll entry.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
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There is also a separate list of abbreviations which is available through the menu at the top of this page or the hyperlink here. Abbreviations are inconsistent, even within a single occurence where a term is abbreviated.
There are a number of sources for tracing abbreviations used in Australian and New Zealand service records. Those used when operating with the British or US forces can generally be found, especially in World War 1. Abbreviations used solely within Australia in WW2 are most difficult to trace, particularly when they are regional. Sometimes a 'best guess' is the only answer.
Duplicated Pages
Some of the service information may appear to be duplicated although individual occurrences are not in the same order and different abbreviations used. This occurs when the unit and Army records are amalgamated upon discharge or death in Service.
Service Numbers
Service numbers in WW1 were unique to the unit (e.g. Battalion) or Corps (e.g. Artillery). In WW2 Service Numbers were unique to the State in which they were allotted. For further information about identity numbers for Service personnel, see Regimental and Service Numbers
Dates of Occurrence and Reporting
The date of reporting an incident may be hours, days or months after the date on which incident actually occurred.
The original service record is amended only when the incident is reported which means that events are not necessarily recorded in in strict chronological sequence. This is the date shown on the left of the page of the original record, and also on the left in my transcription but readers should note that at times there may be no date of reporting at all, particularly when service personel are repatriated for discharge at the end of hostilities.
To assist the reader, when transcribing the military record I have done my best to record events in their chronological sequence. This is date is on the right of the page of the original record and also on the right in my transcription.
For clarity I have transcribed all dates into the format d MMM yyyy.
Enlistment Details
Service Number |
1015 |
Name |
Michael Joseph Nolan |
Born at |
Adelaide, South Australia |
Age |
24 years 3 months as at 11 Jan 1915 (Birth dates not recorded, only age on enlistment) |
Trade or Calling |
Farmer |
Marital Status |
Single |
Next of Kin |
Father - Thomas Nolan |
Previous Military Service |
No |
Attested at |
Adelaide, SA |
Date of Enlistment |
11 Jan 1915 |
Height |
5 foot 9 inches [175 cm] |
Weight |
143 pounds [60.5 Kg] |
Chest |
31 - 34 inches [78.8 - 86.3 cm] |
Complexion |
Dark |
Eyes |
Grey |
Hair |
Brown |
Religious Denomination |
Roman Catholic |
Units |
9th Light Horse Regiment, 3rd Cavalry Brigade |
Chronological Events
Rank |
Description |
Date |
Remarks |
Private |
Enlisted |
1 Jan 1915 |
|
Private |
Assigned to 3 LHTR for training. |
11 Jan 1915 - 31 Mar 1915 |
|
Private |
Assigned to 6th Reinforcement, 9th Light Horse |
25 Mar 1916 |
|
Private |
Embarked Adelaide for Middle East per HMAT “AFRIC” (A19) |
25 May 1915 |
|
Private |
Taken on strength 9th Light Horse |
5 Aug 1915 |
Gallipoli |
Private |
Arrived Alexandria per HMAT “GASCON”, Enteritis |
28 Aug 1915 |
|
Private |
Admitted 1 AGH, Heliopolis |
27 Sep 1915 |
Enteritis, diarrhea |
Private |
Discharged from 2 CD to duty |
21 Sep 1915 |
|
Private |
Admitted to 1 AGH, Heliopolis with severe hernia |
29 Dec 1915 |
|
Private |
NOK advised that he is progressing favourable |
8 Jan 1916 |
|
Private |
Base Records Office advises NOK that Private M J Nolan progressing favourably and will furnish further progress report when received |
1 Feb 1916 |
|
Private |
Inflamed glands of groin, transferred to 1 AH |
29 Feb 1916 |
|
Private |
Returned from Hospital and TOS 3 LHTR |
12 Apr 1916 |
Tel-El-Kebir |
Private |
To VAD 3 LHTR |
18 Apr 1916 |
Inguinal (hernia) scars, mild |
Private |
NOK advised that Private M J Nolan has been admitted to hospital |
20 May 1916 |
|
Private |
Returned to duty, 3 LHTR |
25 Apr 1916 |
|
Private |
Base Records Office Melbourne advises NOKthat Private M.J. Nolan, 9th Light Horse Regiment has been admitted to 3rd Auxilliary Hospital on 20 Apr 1916 suffering from mild inguinal scars. |
27 Apr 1916 |
|
Private |
Detached to HQ ATC & DC 3 ALHTR |
17 Jun 1916 |
|
Private |
Attached to Australian Training Depot Tel-El-Kebir |
1 Jul 1916 |
|
Private |
Medical Board held at Moascar – Fever and Dysentery on Gallipoli, classified class RB2 |
|
|
Private |
Detached to AIF Canteens |
28 Jun 1917 |
This is the usual practice whereby smaller units co-located with a larger unit are attached in order to be catered for rations and (often) accommodation. |
Private |
Marched out to Kaulara and struck off ration strength of ARD |
24 Aug 1917 |
|
ER Corporal |
Promoted to ER Corporal |
1 Jul 1918 |
|
Corporal |
Admitted to 32 Stationary Hospital, Malaria |
31 Jul 1918 |
|
Corporal |
To Hospital, sick |
24 Sep 1918 |
|
Corporal |
Rejoined Unit |
24 Nov 1918 |
|
Corporal |
To Hospital, sick |
17 Feb 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Rejoined Unit |
10 Mar 1919 |
|
Corporal |
To Hospital, sick |
14 Apr 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Rejoined Unit |
25 Apr 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Embarked at Alexandria for UK per “MAGDALENA”, 10% leave |
14 Jul 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Reported to Headquarters ex Egypt, granted leave, to report to Sutton Vesey |
1-8 Aug 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Discharged to Doctor's care |
9 Aug 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Taken on strength of AIF Headquarters London for non-military employment in UK from AIF Canteens, Egypt |
24 Sep 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Granted leave |
24 Sep 1919 - |
|
Coporal |
Returns to AIF Canteens on expiration of leave and march out to Deputy Assistant Adjutant General. Taken on Strength Sutton Vesey. |
1 Nov 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Offence, Sutton Vesey 28 Nov 1919 |
6 Dec 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Embarked London for Australia on HMAT “KONIGIN LUISE” |
18 Dec 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Disembarked Australia |
2 Feb 1919 |
|
Corporal |
Discharged in 4th Military District (4 MD) South Australia |
4 Mar 1919 |
|
|
Advice of despatch of Victory Medal |
Undated |
|
|
Mrs M Campbell, daughter of Michael Joseph Nolan requests Gallipoli Medal [sic] for her father, who believes he is entitled. |
30 Oct 1967 |
Gallipoli (commemorative) Medallion, |
Medals and Dress Embellishments
1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-1920and Victory Medal.
Four Long Service Stripes and fiveOverseas Service Chevrons.
Use the hyperlinks or scroll down to see further information on the badges.
9th Light Horse Regiment
[Information from https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au]
9TH LIGHT HORSE REGIMENT
ENTITLED TO WEAR ANZAC 'A'
9th Light Horse Hat Badge
Following the outbreak of WW1, the 9th Light Horse Regiment was formed in Adelaide and trained in Melbourne between October 1914 and February 1915. Approximately three-quarters of the regiment hailed from South Australia and the other quarter from Victoria. As part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, it sailed from Melbourne on 11 February and arrived in Egypt on 14 March 1915.
Light Horse were considered unsuitable for the initial operations at Gallipoli, but were subsequently deployed without their horses. The 3rd Light Horse Brigade landed in late May 1915 and was attached to the New Zealand and Australian Division. The 9th was fortunate to be the reserve regiment for the Brigade’s disastrous attack on the Nek on 7 August, but the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Albet Miel and several soldiers were killed in their reserve position. The Regiment was committed to the last phase of the August offensive battles (its sister Regiments the 8th and 10th having been decimated at the Nek), The 9th Light Horse subsequently suffered 50 per cent casualties, including its new Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Carew Reynell, attacking Hill 60 on 27 August. Exhausted and under-strength, the 9th then played a defensive role until it finally left the peninsula on 20 December 1915.
Back in Egypt, the 3rd Light Horse Brigade became part of the ANZAC Mounted Division and, in March 1916, joined the forces defending the Suez Canal from a Turkish drive across the Sinai Desert. The Turks were turned at Romani. Although it didn’t take part in the actual battle, the 9th Light Horse was involved in the advance that followed the Turks’ retreat back across the desert.
By December 1916, this advance had reached the Palestine frontier and the 9th was involved in the fighting to secure the Turkish outposts of Maghdaba (23 December) and Rafa (9 January 1917), both of which were captured at bayonet point. The next Turkish stronghold to be encountered was Gaza. The 3rd Light Horse Brigade, now part of the Imperial Mounted Division (later re-named the Australian Mounted Division), was involved in the two abortive battles to capture Gaza directly (27 March and 19 April 1917) and then the operation that ultimately led to its fall - the wide outflanking move via Beersheba that began on 31 October.
With the fall of Gaza on 7 November 1917, the Turkish position in southern Palestine collapsed. The 9th participated in the pursuit that followed and led to the capture of Jerusalem in December. The focus of British operations then moved to the Jordan Valley. In early May 1918 the 9th was involved in the Es Salt raid. It was a tactical failure but did help to convince the Turks that the next offensive would be launched across the Jordan.
Instead, the offensive was launched along the coast on 19 September 1918. The mounted forces penetrated deep into the Turkish rear areas severing roads, railways and communications links. The 9th Light Horse took part in the capture of Jenin on 20-21 September and Sasa on 29 September. It entered Damascus on 1 October, and was on the road to Homs when the Turks surrendered on 31 October. While awaiting to embark for home, the 9th Light Horse were called back to operational duty to quell the Egyptian revolt that erupted in March 1919; order was restored in little over a month. The regiment sailed for home on 10 July 1919.