Neil John Sweeney

SWEENEY, Neil John- – – – SPC 1911

DoB:- – 1896, Quambatook, VIC

Father:- – Charles Sweeney

Mother:- – Alicia M, nee O’Neil

Service No:- 3616

Rank:- – Private

Unit:- – 57th Battalion

Neil Sweeney enlisted on 13 July 1915, at the age of 21 years and four months. He was unmarried, five feet, six and a half inches tall, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His occupation was farmer.

Upon his enlistment, he was attached to the 21st Battalion, then transferred to the 60th Battalion when he arrived at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt, and then to the 57th Battalion by 19 April 1916.

After a brief time in hospital recovering from influenza, Private Sweeney embarked from Alexandria on 17 June and proceeded to Marseilles. He was killed in action in France on 22 September 1916, and buried at Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, 4 -¼ miles south-west of Armentieres. He was 19 years old.

Neil Sweeney’s personal effects were returned to his father at Bridgewater on Loddon, Victoria. They consisted of his identity disc, a religious metal medal, money belt, five buttons, three badges, a Devotional book, scapula, and letters.