Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Denis Ambrose O’Connell was born on 3 April 1894 at Christchurch, the second son of Patrick Denis and Mary Ann (née McSweeney) O’Connell. His father was a sergeant of police and moved about the country. It was in November 1916 that Mr O’Connell was transferred to Waimate. Denis was educated by the Sisters of the Mission at Leeston and by the Christian Brothers at Dunedin. He enlisted on 23 August 1914 at Dunedin as Denis O’Connell, the additional name of Ambrose being notified some time after his death. He was a fitter, residing at the Police Station, South Dunedin. He was then serving with the 4th (Otago) Regiment. He nominated his father as next-of-kin. It appears that Sergeant Patrick O’Connell was at that time relieving at Gore, to where he was transferred inApril 1915. In November 1916, Sergeant O’Connell was moved to Waimate where, it was hoped, the milder climate would be better for his health. Lance-Corporal O’Connell embarked with the Otago Infantry Battalion of the Main Body, on 16 October 1914 at Port Chalmers, headed for Suez, Egypt. He took part in the landing at Gallipoli. Denis O’Connell was wounded in the hand and knee on 6 September 1915 at Gallipoli. He recovered and rejoined his unit. After the evacuation of Gallipoli, he served on the Western Front. Private Denis Ambrose was killed in action at the Somme, France on 14 July 1916, aged 22 , Bois-Grenier, France. He was reported missing from 14 July, and the fear that he had been killed was confirmed. Denis O’Connell had been a popular and successful member of St Joseph’s Harriers, Dunedin. His medals – 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal – weer to be sent to his mother, Mrs Mary O’Connell, Police Station, Waimate. She, however, moved to Christchurch. The scroll and plaque had been sent to Mr P. O’Connell, Police Station, Waimate, in 1921 and 1922 respectively. William O’Connell (47506), a younger brother of Denis Ambrose O’Connell, also served in the war. His older brother, Henry Patrick O’Connell, was called up in 1916. Somme. His youngest brother, Reginald, became a priest, and his two sisters both entered the convent. Ida O’Connell gained proficiency at St Patrick’s School, Waimate in 1917. Gertrude O’Connell, of St Patrick’s Schhol, Waimate, gave gifts to the Lady Liverpool Christmas Fund in 1917 and 1918.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [04 April 2015]; CWGC [04 April 2015]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [04 January 2021]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [07 January 2021]; Mataura Ensign, 21 September 1915, North Otago Times, 9 September 1916Waimate Daily Advertiser, 1 May 1917, 11 August 1917, 25 July 1918 (Papers Past) [09 April 2015; 08 January 2021]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• O'CONNELL Denis Ambrose - newspaper clippings (pdf, 72.8 KB updated 15-Apr-2021)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.