Their bodies are buried in peace; but their names liveth for evermore.

Their Duty Done

A tribute to the men and women of the East Gippsland Region who Died as a result of their participation in World War One : 1914 -1919

After being born near Bunyip in 1895, John Mulligan spent his teenage years in Bairnsdale. The son of John and Elizabeth Mulligan he had five siblings and they lived in McLeod Street, Bairnsdale. John served in the cadets in Bairnsdale before he enlisted in October 1916. Two months later, on 16 December he was on the Medic with the 8/58 th  Battalion on his way to “fight for King and Country”. But there was no war for John Mulligan. When the ship arrived at Cape Town in South Africa, John was transferred to the City Infectious Hospital on 12 January and diagnosed with cerebro spinal meningitis. He died just three days later, one month before his 22 nd  birthday and was buried the next day at the Maitland Road Cemetery, Cape Town on 16 January 1917. Three cousins from the Rokahr and Ward families also died during WW1. In 1947 the Australian Consulate in South Africa wrote to his surviving family detailing the special Anzac Day service that was held commemorating the 45 Australian servicemen buried at the Maitland Road Cemetery and assuring them that they had not been forgotten by the local Australian community in Cape Town.   We have been unable to locate a photograph of Private John Mulligan, if you know of one, please make contact. Our group would appreciate your assistance.