Local War Vet Honoured

As part of the Remembrance Day Ceremony held on Sunday 10 November at the Erica Memorial Public Hall, a tribute was paid to a former Walhalla and Moondarra resident, James Moloney.

Trafalgar RSL tribute to James Moloney 10 Nov 2019

(Note: prepared from speaker’s notes, edited for clarity purposes)

“Today we remember a veteran from world war one, JAMES MOLONY,
Service Number 7479.

This veteran came to our attention through our (RSL) Facebook site.

James joined the Army on 21^st July 1915 at the age of 22 years and
9 months.

James was born at Walhalla and was raised his mother, Mrs M. Moloney,
at Moondarra.

James left Melbourne on board His Majesty’s Australian Transport
(HMAT) A11 – ASCANIUM on 10^th November 1915.

Areas of service were:

• Training after arriving in Egypt on 26^th December 1915
• Transferred to 5^th Australian Division Training on 19^th January 1916
• Attached to 5^th Australian Division France at Matras.
• He was then taken on strength to 46^th Battalion at Tupan on 3^rd March 1916.

He then served with various units until he was given leave in England. He left France on 2^nd September 1918 and then returned to his unit on 18^th September 1918.

James as a driver was gassed, as many were in that type of warfare, and
he was ‘Returned To Australia’ (RTA) on board HT ARMAGH on 5^th April 1919 and arrived in Australia on 18^th of May 1919.

James Moloney is buried in the Moondarra Cemetery at Erica.

The Trafalgar sub-branch has placed a metal poppy on the head-stone of his grave in memory of his service to Australia.

LEST WE FORGET “