CORCORAN, George John

George John Corcoran was born in Port Melboune in 1886. His father George was a Civil Engineer. At the time of his enlistment on 21 October, 1914, his next of kin is his aunt Lucy Johnson who was living at Victora Parade, East Melbourne. Aged 28, George was single and occupation listed as an Ironworker. He was given the rank of Sapper on enlistment with the 2nd Field Company Engineers, embarking on 22 December, 1914 on the HMAT A35 Berrima from Melbourne to join the MEF ex Alexandria early April 1915. By mid-May he was hospitalised in Cairo with haemorhoids being off duty for 3 weeks when he returned to Mustapha and embarked for Gallipoli late June 1915.

A week later he was admitted to 1st Casualty Clearing Station with injuries to his teeth and back. The following day he was moved to the No. 2 ASH Lemnos, prior to being transferred to Malta where he sepent time in both St Andrew and St David Hospitals. On 28 August, 1915 he was transferred to England, being admitted to King George's Hospital, London. on 9 September 1915. His discharge date is unknown.

On March 25, 1916 he returned to Egypt to join his unit. In October the same year he proceeded to join the B.E.F in France via England. By mid May he had been admitted to the 15th General Hospital in London. In October 1916 he returned to France from Christchurch where he had been acting Corporal at the Training Depot. He served as a Sapper at the Australian General Base Depot at Etaples, being appointed acting Corporal. In April, 1917 his rank was reversed when he was disciplined for being out of bounds. In May he was taken on strength of the 9th Field Co. Engineers. Late August 1917 he was admitted sick to the 11th Field Ambulance, then transferred to the 10th Sty. Hospital, St Omer. By September 1917 he rejoined the 9th F.C.E. and was immediately detached to the 34th Battalion for duty. On the 10 September 1917 he was appointed Lieutenant Corporal. Mid October he was wounded in action and admitted to 44th Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred to No. 11 Con. Depot, Rouen.

After rejoining his unit in January 1917,he was detached to the Australian Corps. School then joined the Infantry Officers Cadet Batttalion in England in 19 April 1918. A month later he joined the No. 5 Officers CetBattalion in Cambridge. By December he had qualified for a commission in the infantry and appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the AIF and posted to General Infantry Reinforcements.

In late May 1919 he was granted leave for 3 months with pay and sub. He spent this time working at a car engineering facility near  Bournemouth and also to live with his wife. Contained within the service record is a copy of his marriage licence. On 3rd October 1916 George married Lucy Sutton ,29 year old spinster from Bournemouth. Her father Theophilus Hayes Sutton is noted as a deceased cabinet maker. George's father is also deceased by this time. George and Lucy returned to Australia late October 1919, disembarking in Sydney mid December.

Electoral records show George and his wife as residents at 60 Simpson Street, East Melbourne in 1924. At this time they successfully applied for and received a war service loan to purchase a home at 5 Villeroy Street, Sandringham. They resided here until Lucy passed away in 1950 and George in 1954. He worked as a labourer until his death aged 68 years. There appears no record of offspring.