A.B Joseph Bolger Z/323 - was he in the Dardanelles, and his family please ?

[davidbohl]

I'm hoping this is the brother of my KLR casualty Pte 16441 Thomas Bolger who according to the paper "Private Bolger was only 20 years of age and has two other brothers serving, one of whom has been missing for about 12 months after serving in the Dardanelles campaign. "

The available documents I have found don't record his parents, or address but he did get the Star.

Many thanks

Dave

 

 

From Anc.

 

From the BNA

 

Other brothers are recorded on the census which I can post if needed but let's count this chap in or out.

[michaeldr]

42 minutes ago, davidbohl said:

The available documents I have found don't record his parents, or address but he did get the Star.

 

Joseph Bolger MZ/323, Next of Kin = Father, address Eastham Locks, Eastham, Cheshire
ADM/339/1 is a free download frm the Nat Archs.

[davidbohl]

4 minutes ago, michaeldr said:

Eastham Locks, Eastham

Thanks Michael, the address is spot on and nice to know he turned up for the the family near xmas 1916

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at Eastham Locks Cottages.

 

 

[horatio2]

A lucky man, BOLGER, to come though his Gallipoli campaign alive, unwounded and free of disease - and, likewise, he BEF until mid-1917.

3 hours ago, davidbohl said:

has been missing for about 12 months after serving in the Dardanelles campaign

I cannot see the justification for the "missing" description. On what date was it publishedThe "12 months" noted would run from May 1916 and cover his time in the BEF. It may just boil down to his failure to answer letters and to write home.

There seems to be conflation with Mersey Z/330, Able Seaman Edward R KORTENS, mentioned in the Runcorn Guardian, who was missing and later assumed k.i.a..

[davidbohl]

1 hour ago, horatio2 said:

On what date was it publishedThe "12 months"

Published in the Birkenhead News 15th July 1916

From the BNA

 

[horatio2]

For clarity, we have the press opinion that Joseph BOLGER, on 15 July 1916 "...has been missing for about 12 months after serving in the Dardanelles campaign."

Given that the RND's MEF operations ceased on transfer to the BEF in mid-May 1916, the obvious interpretation of the above is that BOLGER had been missing since mid-July 1915. This is obviously wrong.

I turn back to BOLGER's unfortunate "best friend" Ted KORTENS who was indeed mising in action on 13 July 1915 (the Action of Achi Baba Nullah)  By great coincidence KORTENS' ercord shows that on 15 July 1916 his n.o.k. were informed that his death in action a year earlier had been accepted.

I conclude that the two ratings' service have beeen confused by the Birkenhead News reporter.

[davidbohl]

3 hours ago, horatio2 said:

conclude that the two ratings' service have beeen confused by the Birkenhead News reporter.

Thanks Horatio,

Easily done I suppose at the time