His story
Joseph Alexander Fitzsimons was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and worked as a carrier. In August 1915 he gave his age as 39 years and three months. He was married to Olive; his 1917 papers give her address as 345 Annandale Street, Annandale, Sydney.
He attested at Liverpool, New South Wales, on 24 August 1915. His later attestation reports South African War service with the NSW Lancers. A September 1915 transfer form records him as a Farrier Sergeant moving to an Australian Light Horse training squadron. Home service is recorded from 16 September 1915 until discharge at his own request on 4 May 1917.
Fitzsimons attested again on 20 July 1917 and was appointed to the veterinary corps at Holdsworthy on 24 July. Serving as a Private, number 1213, he embarked from Sydney aboard Wiltshire on 2 February 1918. He disembarked at Suez on 11 March and joined the details camp at Moascar the following day.
He was admitted with appendicitis on 27 March, subsequently reported seriously and dangerously ill, and died of acute appendicitis on 2 April 1918. His casualty form records burial at Ismailia Cemetery on 3 April, in the contemporary grave numbered 1162.
Before the war
- Nationality
- Australian
- Place of birth
- County Donegal, Ireland
- Occupation
- Carrier
- Residence recorded
- Wife’s recorded address, 1917: 345 Annandale Street, Annandale, Sydney
- Family
- Wife: Olive Fitzsimons
Military service
- Rank recorded
- Private
- Service number
- 1213
- Corps or service
- Australian Army Veterinary Corps
- Unit
- Army Veterinary Section, Holdsworthy; AAVC Training Depot
- Earlier service
- Reported NSW Lancers service in the South African War; Farrier Sergeant in Australian home service
Death and burial
- Date of death
- 2 April 1918
- Place of death
- Ismailia, Egypt
- Recorded cause
- Acute appendicitis
- Cemetery or memorial
- Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery
- Grave reference
- 1162 (contemporary burial record; current reference unverified)
Connected men
- William Charles NEWBURYAlso buried at Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery
Sources and further reading
Cite this biography
Graham Hodgkins and Pete Matthews, “Joseph Alexander Fitzsimons”, Veterinary Virtual War Memorial, https://vetsremembered.org/people/joseph_alexander_fitzsimons/.
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