MAGUIRE, John

  1. Service Details
  2. Personal Details
  3. Unit and Rank Details
  4. Notes
  5. Sources

Service Details

Branch of Service
Army
Conflict
World War I (1914-1918)
Date of Enlistment
01/03/1917
Date of Discharge
28/09/1919
Place of Enlistment
Sydney NSW

Personal Details

Gender
Male
Other Name(s)
Known as 'Jack'
Date of Birth
10/05/1899
Place of Birth
Moruya NSW
Address (at enlistment)
Bondi Road, Bondi NSW (previously 'Springbank', Canberra ACT)
School(s) Attended
Canberra Public School (St. John's), St. Patrick's College (Goulburn)
Occupation
Draftsman
Next of Kin
Mary Ann Maguire (mother) and Daniel Maguire (deceased), South Goulburn NSW

Unit and Rank Details

Service Number
17997
Final Rank
Trooper
Final Unit
12 Light Horse Regiment AIF

Notes

Jack Maguire was the grandson of William and Anastasia Sullivan of 'Springbank' in Canberra and 'Sulwood' in Tuggeranong. Anastasia Sullivan (nee Pike) grew up on a small farm near Tuggeranong Homestead. He was also the nephew of Thomas Sullivan (who enlisted for service in World War 1) and lived at 'Springbank' with his mother after his father died when he was four. He attended school in Canberra and at St. Patrick's in Goulburn. He arrived in Egypt in June 1917, saying later in his life that "I no sooner got there and I wished I'd stayed home." He served initially with the 2nd Field Squadron Engineers before transferring to the 12th Light Horse Regiment as a Trooper. During 1918 he served in Palestine and was hospitalised twice but returned to Australia in August 1919.

In 1926 he acquired 'Oakey Hill', a soldier settler lease in the Woden Valley which he later renamed 'Melrose', covering areas of Curtin, Lyons and Chifley. He built a homestead there (near James Place, Curtin) and married Clare Morrison from 'Tralee' in 1931. Together they worked 'Melrose' until 1963 when it was resumed for suburban development. The government 'called-in' their Boboyan lease the following year. Maguire also volunteered for service in World War 2. He died on 17 November 1973 at Canberra Hospital and is buried in Woden Cemetery. Melrose Drive and Melrose High School are named after his property.

Note that one source (Douglas) incorrectly gives his date of birth as 10 September 1901, suggesting he was only fifteen at the time he enlisted . All other sources state that he was born in 1899.

Description - height 5 feet 8½ inches, weight 140 pounds, chest 33-36½ inches, medium complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, Catholic, scar on the back of his left leg.

Sources

Rex Cross, 'Bygone Queanbeyan', 1980
Fionna Douglas, 'Not without my Corsets', 1996
Queanbeyan Age - 19 August 1919
The Canberra Times - 21 November 1973
Patience Wardle, notes for a talk delivered by the author, Wardle Collection, Canberra & District Historical Society, 1988
Alexander J. McGilvray, 'The Hallowed High Adventure', 1973 (p.119)
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)
ArchivesACT, 'Repat & Rabbits - WW1 Soldier Settlement in the ACT', http://www.archives.act.gov.au/repatandrabbits
Images provided by Frank Maguire

Create Certificate
Jack Maguire, c. 1917.  Image provided by Frank Maguire.

Jack Maguire, c. 1917. Image provided by Frank Maguire.

Jack Maguire at 'Melrose', c. 1960. Image provided by Frank Maguire.

Jack Maguire at 'Melrose', c. 1960. Image provided by Frank Maguire.

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